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

That announcement was just the latest in a series of warnings by federal cybersecurity officials about Iran's efforts to meddle in the upcoming election. —Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024

When prices in the marketplace are meddled with, scarcity of the market good is the logical result. —John Tamny, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024

Our ever-advancing phones, computers and TV screens have begun to mold and meddle with modern-day relationships. —Alyssa Bereznak, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024

Lewis will play Antoinette, Crutch’s (Morgan) meddling sister-in-law who, much to his chagrin, has inserted herself as the de facto matriarch of the Crutchfield clan. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 17 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