American English
/ɪnˈveɪ.sɪv/
3 syllables · Stress the second syllable.
Entering someone's private life or personal space in an unwanted way.
Practice out loudEntering someone's private life or personal space in an unwanted way.
The reporter's questions felt invasive.
Some apps are invasive because they collect too much personal data.
Invasive is usually negative. It often describes something that goes too far into a person's private life.
invasive questions · invasive behavior · invasive treatment
be + invasive
find + something + invasive
Involving a medical procedure that enters the body, usually by cutting the skin or using an instrument.
Doctors chose a less invasive treatment.
The operation is invasive, so recovery may take several weeks.
Minimally invasive means that a procedure enters the body but causes only small cuts or limited damage.
invasive surgery · invasive procedure · minimally invasive treatment
be + invasive
require + an invasive procedure
Spreading into a new natural area and harming the plants or animals that already live there.
The lake is full of invasive plants.
Officials removed the invasive fish from the river.
Invasive species are not simply new species; they spread quickly and cause harm in their new environment.
invasive species · invasive plants · invasive fish
invasive + species
become + invasive