INTERVENE Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'intervene' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of intervene are intercede , interfere , interpose , and mediate . While all these words mean "to come or go between," intervene may imply an occurring in space or time between two things or a stepping in to stop a conflict. // quarreled until the manager intervened

Q: When might 'intercede' be a better fit than 'intervene'?

While the synonyms intercede and intervene are close in meaning, intercede implies acting for an offender in begging mercy or forgiveness. // interceded on our behalf

Q: When is 'interfere' a more appropriate choice than 'intervene'?

The synonyms interfere and intervene are sometimes interchangeable, but interfere implies hindering. // noise interfered with my concentration

Q: In what contexts can 'interpose' take the place of 'intervene'?

The meanings of interpose and intervene largely overlap; however, interpose often implies no more than this. // interposed herself between him and the door

Q: When can 'mediate' be used instead of 'intervene'?

The words mediate and intervene can be used in similar contexts, but mediate implies intervening between hostile factions. // mediated between the parties

intervene

verb

ˌin-tər-ˈvēn

Definition of intervene next

as in to interfere

to act as a go-between for opposing sides intervened in the argument before any real harm was done

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word intervene different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of intervene are intercede, interfere, interpose, and mediate. While all these words mean "to come or go between," intervene may imply an occurring in space or time between two things or a stepping in to stop a conflict.

quarreled until the manager intervened

When might intercede be a better fit than intervene?

While the synonyms intercede and intervene are close in meaning, intercede implies acting for an offender in begging mercy or forgiveness.

interceded on our behalf

When is interfere a more appropriate choice than intervene?

The synonyms interfere and intervene are sometimes interchangeable, but interfere implies hindering.

noise interfered with my concentration

In what contexts can interpose take the place of intervene?

The meanings of interpose and intervene largely overlap; however, interpose often implies no more than this.

interposed herself between him and the door

When can mediate be used instead of intervene?

The words mediate and intervene can be used in similar contexts, but mediate implies intervening between hostile factions.

mediated between the parties

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of intervene But then there was the long wait for a post-cliffhanger return, an unusually extended hiatus even given the intervening Hollywood strikes. —

Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2025 And Bad News Founded in 2017, May Mobility operates driverless transit fleets in the U.S. and Japan, mainly with safety drivers on-board to intervene if necessary. —

Ed Garsten, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025 Jimmy Carter's enduring diplomatic legacy: ANALYSIS China's expanding influence in Panama and across Central America more broadly has sparked concern on both sides of the aisle, but the same 1977 treaty authorizes the U.S. to intervene if the canal's neutrality is jeopardized. —

Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2025 Hours later, after Trump intervened, the deal was dead. —

Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for intervene

Recent Examples of Synonyms for intervene

Verb

In 2023, however, Trudeau learned that the Chinese state had been interfering in Canadian elections for some time.

David Frum, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025
Their agreeing to interfere came right after Trump spoke by phone with Alito, ostensibly about an applicant for an agency general counsel position that had been an Alito clerk.

New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025