invasive
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invasive
- /ɪnˈveɪsɪv/ US, UK
- /-zɪv/ US, UK
Where it comes from
PIE word
*h₁én
The adjective is derived from Middle English invasif (“of a weapon: offensive”), from Middle French invasif, Old French invasif (“invasive”) (modern French invasif), from Medieval Latin invāsīvus, from Latin invāsus (“entered; invaded”) + -īvus (suffix forming adjectives). Invāsus is the perfect passive participle of invādō (“to enter; to invade”), from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside’) + vādō (“to go; to rush; to walk”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weh₂dʰ- (“to go, proceed; to pass, traverse”)).
The noun is derived from the adjective.
adjective more invasive · most invasive
- Of or pertaining to invasion; offensive. The Spanyards called their invaſive fleete againſt England the Navie Invincible, yet it was overcome.
- That invades a foreign country using military force; also, militarily aggressive. He managed to get back Lorraine; made truce with the Hungarians, who were excessively invasive at that time. Truce with the Hungarians; and then, having gathered strength, made dreadful beating of them; two beatings,—one to each half, for the invasive Savagery had split itself, for better chance of
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Intrusive on one's privacy, rights, sphere of activity, etc.
It's wrong of me to ask such an invasive question when I keep so many secrets hidden from you.
Opposite: uninvasive
- Originating externally. All invasive moral states and passionate enthusiasms make one feelingless to evil in some direction.
-
Of an organism: that grows (especially uncontrollably) in environments which do not harbour natural enemies, often to the detriment of native species or of food or garden flora and fauna.
an invasive species
Opposite: noninvasive, non-invasive
-
Of a procedure: involving the entry of an instrument into part of the body.
The natural evolution of minimally invasive surgery has taken the surgeon to new heights and has extended the breadth of laparoscopic surgery to include procedures of the colon.
Opposite: noninvasive, non-invasive
- Of a carcinoma or other abnormal growth: that invades healthy tissue, especially rapidly. Two patients developed cancer in the upper urinary tract, and 3 eventually developed invasive cancer.
noun invasives
- An invasive organism, such as an animal or plant. Is there ever a time to plant invasives—plants that are known to spread—in the garden? I believe the answer is a qualified "yes." There is never a time to plant exotic, that is non-native, invasives. Exotic invasives such as pampas grass and French and Scottish broom were sold by local nurseries in
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: incursive, intrusive, encroaching, trespassing, aggressive, offensive, fast-growing, invading, aggression, overwhelming, invasion, overgrown, insulting, exotic, interventionist, radical
Translations
Every language
adj that invades a foreign country using military force; militarily aggressive
| Português | invasor |
|---|---|
| Français | d'invasion |
| Italiano | di invasione |
| Română | de invazie |
adj intrusive on one’s privacy, rights, sphere of activity, etc.
| Español | invasivo |
|---|---|
| Português | invasivo |
| Français | invasif |
| Italiano | invadente, invasivo |
Talk about this word "invasive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/invasive. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. invasive. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/invasive "invasive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/invasive.Cite this
@misc{invasive_2026,
title = {invasive},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/invasive},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
