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

Their best interaction involves mutual commiseration about their fathers, one deeply meddlesome and the other emotionally absent. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 July 2024

Joyce Antler, also a historian of American Judaism, has written specifically about stereotypes of Jewish mothers as meddlesome, interfering, overbearing and over-involved. —Samira Mehta, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2024

Moon has become particularly close with Bean, who plays her mother, and who has put a lot of thought into how best to be helpful without being meddlesome. —Michael Paulson, New York Times, 8 May 2024

Immediately, sparks fly but the road to love will be anything but easy when their meddlesome friends and family get involved. —Dana Feldman, Forbes, 26 Sep. 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