meddlesome

adjective

med·​dle·​some ˈme-dᵊl-səm 

: given to meddling

meddlesomeness noun

Synonyms

• busy
• interfering
• intruding
• intrusive
• meddling
• nosy
• nosey
• obtrusive
• officious
• presuming
• presumptuous
• protrusive
• prying
• pushing
• pushy
• snoopy

Choose the Right Synonym for meddlesome

impertinent, officious, meddlesome, intrusive, obtrusive mean given to thrusting oneself into the affairs of others.

impertinent implies exceeding the bounds of propriety in showing interest or curiosity or in offering advice.

resented their impertinent interference

officious implies the offering of services or attentions that are unwelcome or annoying.

officious friends made the job harder

meddlesome stresses an annoying and usually prying interference in others' affairs.

a meddlesome landlord

intrusive implies a tactless or otherwise objectionable thrusting into others' affairs.

tried to be helpful without being intrusive

obtrusive stresses improper or offensive conspicuousness of interfering actions.

expressed an obtrusive concern for his safety

Examples of meddlesome in a Sentence

Her neighbors saw her as a meddlesome nuisance.

meddlesome neighbors kept asking the couple when they were going to have children

Recent Examples on the Web

With little more to do, Brett finds himself in constant ego clashes with his ex-wife Melissa’s (Nora Zehetner) meddlesome new husband, Connor (Josh Ventura). —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 Feb. 2025

The Taliban face the poverty, internal strife, illicit crops, meddlesome neighbors, and threat of insurrections that are endemic to their country—and have proved the bane of all its rulers. —Carter Malkasian, Foreign Affairs, 23 Aug. 2021

Much to his chagrin, his unnatural spawn makes for a meddlesome son. —Courtney Howard, Variety, 29 Jan. 2025

Romano starred as the sitcom's titular character, Raymond Barone, an Italian sports columnist living in Long Island with his wife (Patricia Heaton), three kids and meddlesome parents right across the street. —Joelle Goldstein, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

meddlesome

adjective

med·​dle·​some ˈmed-ᵊl-səm 

: inclined to meddle

meddlesomely adverb