Standard Lemma guide

unobtrusively

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK, US: /ˌʌn.əbˈtɹuː.sɪv.li/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In an unobtrusive manner; in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in an unobtrusive manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • messengers were moving unobtrusively over the jet-black mountain ranges, bearing confidential tidings from sheikhdom to sheikhdom

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: obtrusively

History

Etymology

From unobtrusive + -ly or un- + obtrusively.

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: ненатрапчиво (nenatrapčivo) — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • Finnish: vaatimattomasti — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • Finnish: hienovaraisesti — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • French: discrètement — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • French: en catimini — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • French: en douce — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • French: en cachette — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • Hungarian: feltűnés nélkül — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • Hungarian: diszkréten — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • Italian: discretamente — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • Italian: alla chetichella — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • Polish: dyskretnie — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • Russian: ненавязчиво (nenavjazčivo) — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • Spanish: discretamente — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • Spanish: con reserva — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • Spanish: de callado — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • Spanish: callandito — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • Spanish: a la chita callando — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • Turkish: sessiz sedasız — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant
  • Turkish: çaktırmadan — in a manner that is not noticeable or blatant