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

Her frugal immigrant parents bring their own food, and Nate’s meddlesome mom harangues her son about his career and her desperation for a grandchild. —Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024

Trump no longer casts himself as a brash entrepreneur vexed by meddlesome government regulators but as a messianic strongman keen on maximizing state power to reshape American society, culture, and law. —Jon D. Michaels, Foreign Affairs, 10 June 2024

The 12-team playoff isn’t even here yet, and already the meddlesome 11 are deciding how to reshape the playoff for the 2026 season. —Blake Toppmeyer, The Tennessean, 1 Mar. 2024

Their best interaction involves mutual commiseration about their fathers, one deeply meddlesome and the other emotionally absent. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 July 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