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

There has been some public and internal pressure over sanctioning Afghanistan's cricket board, which is meddled by the government, and effectively ban the men's team from playing. —Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

The film also stars Lohan's Mean Girls costar Tim Meadows, as well as Kristin Chenoweth, who plays meddling mom Erica. —Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 26 Nov. 2024

One other way Trump might try to meddle in the Fed’s affairs is by trying to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. —Ellen Ioanes, Vox, 7 Nov. 2024

Russia was accused of meddling in Moldova’s presidential vote and in parliamentary elections in fellow former Soviet republic Georgia last month, when the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party claimed victory. —Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 4 Nov. 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