meddle

verb

med·​dle ˈme-dᵊl 

meddled; meddling

ˈmed-liŋ,

ˈme-dᵊl-iŋ 

intransitive verb

: to interest oneself in what is not one's concern : interfere without right or propriety (see propriety sense 1)

I never meddle in other people's private affairs

—G. B. Shaw

meddler

ˈmed-lər  ˈme-dᵊl-ər 

noun

Synonyms

• butt in
• interfere
• interlope
• intermeddle
• intrude
• mess
• muck (about or around)
• nose
• obtrude
• poke
• pry
• snoop

Examples of meddle in a Sentence

please stop meddling in your sister's marriage, even though you mean well

Recent Examples on the Web

These attacks and other threats come after a report from Microsoft last month showed that foreign adversaries, including Russia, China, and Iran, may be ramping up efforts to meddle in the U.S. 2024 presidential election. —Michael D. Carroll, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Good free-market neoliberals had historically disdained this idea, believing government attempts to meddle in the economy would have bad results. —Andrew Prokop, Vox, 15 Oct. 2024

While Tovah Feldshuh is intimidating from the jump, here’s hoping Nobody Wants This does more with her than lean into the meddling Jewish mother trope. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2024

As siblings offer advice and sometimes meddle in each other’s romantic pursuits, the show provides a fresh perspective on dating. —Jane Lacroix, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English medlen, from Anglo-French mesler, medler, from Vulgar Latin *misculare, from Latin miscēre to mix — more at mix

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

meddle

verb

med·​dle ˈmed-ᵊl 

meddled; meddling ˈmed-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

: to interest oneself in what is not one's concern

meddle in another's business

meddler

ˈmed-lər 

-ᵊl-ər

noun