Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of interfere are intercede, interpose, intervene, and mediate. While all these words mean "to come or go between," interfere implies hindering.

noise interfered with my concentration

When is intercede a more appropriate choice than interfere?

The words intercede and interfere can be used in similar contexts, but intercede implies acting for an offender in begging mercy or forgiveness.

interceded on our behalf

When can interpose be used instead of interfere?

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

interposed herself between him and the door

Where would intervene be a reasonable alternative to interfere?

While the synonyms intervene and interfere are close in meaning, 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

In what contexts can mediate take the place of interfere?

While in some cases nearly identical to interfere, mediate implies intervening between hostile factions.

mediated between the parties

Example 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 interfere The actress often works in London, and plays the interfering Miss. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2025 This is the third day of rain and interfering winds. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025 Cabinet members reportedly watched the fiery exchange without interfering. Washington Examiner Staff, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Mar. 2025 Chuck Todd: Jeff Bezos is blaming the victim Whatever Bezos’s personal reasons are, equally important is the fact that he is emboldened to interfere so brazenly. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for interfere
Recent Examples of Synonyms for interfere
Verb
  • Trade professionals and home improvement DIYers often buy heavy-duty handheld vacuums to clean job site messes like sawdust, drywall dust or wood shavings.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
  • That messed me up, that messed my friends up, messed my whole family up.
    Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Further stirring the pot is the appearance of an FBI agent (Jenna Elfman) who starts snooping around into missives about Vines’ death.
    Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Starlink should not be able to snoop on the details of White House staffers’ usage, thanks to nearly-universal encryption of web site and app traffic.
    Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Further study of what goes wrong in pregnancy at high elevation or when the oxygen levels reaching the fetus are low hopefully will reveal new indications of when to intervene.
    Tim Vernimmen, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Kennedy then conferred with Trump about intervening.
    Susan Page, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Mary Fowler momentarily looks down and holds up a very neat yellow square of knitting to the camera, two wooden needles poking out either side.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
  • During the incident, Konig also allegedly attempted to poke the woman with two syringes, Hawaii News Now reported, citing law enforcement sources.
    Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • With his fourth corner 3-pointer in as many tries — three of them launched in front of OKC’s meddling sideline — Watson spun around and trash-talked his irritants, gleefully backpedaling to the end of the floor that he’s actually meant to dominate.
    Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 12 Mar. 2025
  • There is no doubt that Russian hackers and human agents meddled in the 2016 and 2020 elections.
    Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Linux updates never steal focus or intrudes on your work.
    Jason Evangelho, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • That’s melanin—the same pigment that darkens human skin—which fungi use to protect themselves against other, intruding fungi.
    Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Interfere.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/interfere. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on interfere

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