meddle
Americanverb (used without object)
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meddles,
present (3rd person singular)
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meddled,
past participle, past
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meddling
present participle
verb
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(usually foll by with) to interfere officiously or annoyingly
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(usually foll by in) to involve oneself unwarrantedly
to meddle in someone's private affairs
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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meddlernoun
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overmeddleverb (used without object)
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meddlingadjective
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unmeddledadjective
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meddlinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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meddlesimple
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meddlessimple
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have meddledperfect
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has meddledperfect
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am meddlingprogressive
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are meddlingprogressive
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is meddlingprogressive
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have been meddlingperfect progressive
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has been meddlingperfect progressive
Past
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meddledsimple
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had meddledperfect
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was meddlingprogressive
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were meddlingprogressive
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had been meddlingperfect progressive
Future
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
Explanation
To meddle is to interfere. You can meddle in someone else's affairs, and you can meddle with someone else's things. Either way, you’re messing with someone else’s stuff and she probably doesn’t like it. Meddle started out in the late 1400’s meaning “to mingle,” then it became a pain when it began to be used to mean “interfere,” which is how we use it now. For a little while there it also meant to be, um, romantic with someone, but it’s not used that way today. Meddle is what little sisters do, always getting in the middle of your business.
Vocabulary lists containing meddle
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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This Week in Words: March 10 - 16, 2018
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“These are attempts to interfere, to meddle in Mexican politics,” Sheinbaum said at her regular morning news conference.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
In Homer’s original poem, the gods hold meetings, argue, play favorites and meddle so routinely in human affairs that Athena is practically a second protagonist.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
It declared that the western hemisphere was America's sphere of interest – and warned European powers not to meddle or establish new colonies.
From BBC ● Jan. 8, 2026
It’s actually quite problematic that some perversely rich guys meddle in our affairs in their own way.
From Slate ● Nov. 19, 2025
“The executive authority is so wholly out of my sphere,” he observed, “and it is so delicate a thing for me to meddle in that, I avoid it as much as possible.”
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
It’s saying he’s misinformed and fantasizing, not outright lying, as he meddles deeply in California water.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 3, 2025
He has argued that the court meddles in his mandate and reminded the military that, in a democracy, it is subordinate to the elected government.
From Reuters ● Aug. 14, 2023
It’s a Jane Austen-esque comedy of marriage in which a teenager meddles in her older sister’s love life while their parents look on in dismay.
From New York Times ● Apr. 28, 2023
However, as Noah meddles in Howie's affairs, obstacles arise for the potential couple.
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2022
He is a peaceful man, and a true, and meddles not the Border folk.
From Tales From Scottish Ballads by Allan Stewart
Middle Eastern countries have long meddled in Africa, jostling for influence in the most strategic parts of the continent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 5, 2026
"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 ● Nov. 8, 2025
Among other things, last week she reached out and meddled in a case over which she had no jurisdiction, plucking the matter back from the appeals court where it was properly pending.
From Slate ● Jan. 14, 2025
For a while CNN was owned by AT&T. I interacted directly with the CEO of AT&T, and in my experience he never meddled with our with our truthful news coverage.
From Salon ● Nov. 14, 2023
The dead Tenorio who had meddled with the fate of Narciso and Ultima would be carted away from our hills.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
As part of my research, I caught a livestream of a conference where human-resource officials brought up their exasperation with parents meddling in their Gen Z children’s careers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Although 48% had confidence that there would be not meddling, the concerns expressed were still significant, Schickler said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
On the hard-news side, she bungled big moments like an interview with Vladimir Putin, who batted away her questions about 2016 election meddling with an exasperated performance of ignorance.
From Slate ● May 6, 2026
The military has repeatedly denied involvement in Khan's legal cases or meddling in the civilian domain.
From Barron's ● Apr. 12, 2026
“In their enthusiasm for conflict resolution, the Amity have apparently forgotten that meddling creates more conflict,” says Tobias.
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
