officious Definition
- 1assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way, especially with regard to petty or trivial matters
- 2intrusively enthusiastic in offering help or advice; interfering
Using officious: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "officious" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The officious waiter kept interrupting our conversation.
Example
She was always officious, telling everyone what to do.
Example
He was an officious little man who loved to boss people around.
Example
The officious neighbor kept offering unwanted advice.
officious Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for officious
Antonyms for officious
Phrases with officious
a person who interferes or offers unwanted help in a situation where they are not needed
Example
The officious bystander kept trying to direct traffic, even though there was already a police officer on the scene.
the quality of being excessively eager to offer help or advice
Example
Her officiousness was starting to annoy her coworkers.
in an assertive or interfering manner
Example
He officiously told us how to do our jobs, even though he had no experience in our field.
Origins of officious
from Latin 'officiosus', meaning 'performing one's duty'
Summary: officious in Brief
The term 'officious' [əˈfɪʃəs] describes someone who is assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way, especially with regard to petty or trivial matters. It can also refer to someone who is intrusively enthusiastic in offering help or advice, and is often used in a negative context. Synonyms include 'meddlesome,' 'interfering,' and 'prying.'
