meddle

[med-l]

verb (used without object)

meddled, meddling 

1. to involve oneself in a matter without right or invitation; interfere officiously and unwantedly.

   Stop meddling in my personal life!

   Synonyms: pry, intrude, intervene

meddle

/ ˈmɛdəl /

verb

1. (usually foll by with) to interfere officiously or annoyingly

2. (usually foll by in) to involve oneself unwarrantedly

   to meddle in someone's private affairs

Other Word Forms

• meddler noun
• overmeddle verb (used without object)
• unmeddled adjective
• meddling adjective
• meddlingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of meddle¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English medlen, from Old French me(s)dler, variant of mesler “to mix,” from Vulgar Latin misculāre (unrecorded), frequentative of Latin miscēre

Word History and Origins

Origin of meddle¹

C14: from Old French medler, ultimately from Latin miscēre to mix

Example Sentences

Price intervention is dangerous in any private market because it gives politicians a chance to meddle.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Presidential administrations have meddled in Latin America and South America for decades.

Read more on Salon

But historic attempts to meddle with the infrastructure of European sports haven’t always gone smoothly.

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Anything can be framed as a “religious belief,” entitling parents to meddle with what’s available in the classroom.

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"If they have been contained in their country, let them not come here to meddle. Let's not give them a chance. They have already created chaos in their own country," she said.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• hinder 
• impede 
• impose 
• infringe 
• intrude 
• tamper