meddle

American  

[med-l] / ˈmɛd 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

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meddle British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of meddle

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

Example Sentences

When Monroe declared the Americas off limits to “future colonization by any European powers,” the U.S. didn’t really have the means or motive to meddle abroad.

From The Wall Street Journal

Middle Eastern countries have long meddled in Africa, jostling for influence in the most strategic parts of the continent.

From The Wall Street Journal

Only a fool would meddle with the classic cocktail sauce recipe.

From The Wall Street Journal

Public policy advocates and experts expressed concern about state lawmakers using their power to meddle with local housing projects, especially when carving out exemptions from laws they’ve imposed on everyone else in the state.

From Los Angeles Times

"He was well known for protecting all of his artists from the BBC executives, making sure they weren't meddled with," said Mr Baldwin.

From BBC

Related Words

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