Vocabulary in context
SAT Vocabulary Workbook
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Interloper
A person who becomes involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or invited; an intruder or meddler who intrudes on others' affairs.
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Imagine This
Imagine a social gathering where someone quietly glides between conversations, interrupting and inserting themselves into every group’s talk, clearly not invited and unwelcome.
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Sounds Like
IN-ter-LOHP-er
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Looks Like
The word looks like two parts: inter- (between) and lope (to run), hinting at someone who runs between people or groups
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Remember This
Interloper originally described someone who interferes in others' business or trade; the emphasis is on unwanted intrusion, not mere presence.
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Other Forms
interlopeverb
interlopedverb
interlopingadjective
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Connect With
intruder, meddler, encroacher, outsider, trespasser
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Note
Do not confuse with intruder in the sense of breaking into a place; interloper emphasizes meddling in people’s affairs or entering a space where one isn’t welcome.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- A curious neighbor acted as an interloper at the homeowners' meeting, interrupting everyone with unsolicited advice.
- The journalist was accused of being an interloper during the private negotiations, stepping beyond professional boundaries.
Synonyms
intrudertrespassermeddlerencroacherbusybody
Antonyms
insidermemberwelcomed guest
Etymology
From Middle English interloper, from inter- 'between' + loper 'runner', describing someone who runs between parties to interfere in their affairs.
Mnemonic
Interloper = INTER between + LOPE (to run). Picture a person who runs between groups at a party, crashing conversations and sticking their nose into others' business.
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Parsimony
nounThe quality of being extremely frugal or stingy; the tendency to spend as little as possible.
Impudence
nounThe quality of being shamelessly bold or disrespectful; audacity or insolence.
Decadence
nounA decline in cultural and moral standards, often accompanied by excessive self-indulgence and luxury.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abasement
nounThe act or instance of humiliating or degrading someone; the state of being lowered in dignity or status.
Absurdity
nounThe quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.
Accent
nounA distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).
Accolade
nounAn honor; a public expression of praise or an award.
Acrimony
nounBitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling
Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).
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