meddlesome

[med-l-suh m]

See more synonyms for meddlesome on Thesaurus.com

adjective

given to meddling; interfering; intrusive.

Origin of meddlesome

First recorded in 1605–15; meddle + -some¹

Related formsmed·dle·some·ly, adverbmed·dle·some·ness, nounun·med·dle·some, adjective

Synonym study

See curious.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for meddlesome

Contemporary Examples

Molly Goldberg was a radio and TV character synonymous with a meddlesome sort of Jewish mother for generations of Americans.
The Strange Power of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’
Jen Vafidis
October 28, 2013
Under Musharraf, the military was seen as meddlesome and oppressive force.
Pakistan’s bin Laden Scapegoat
Ron Moreau
May 6, 2011
Annoyed, young Rush sends out a pouting "who will rid me of these meddlesome hippies?"
Rush Limbaugh! The Musical
Rick Perlstein
February 3, 2010

Historical Examples

He was meddlesome with perfect modesty; if he knew a thing or two there was no merit in it.
An Outcast of the Islands
Joseph Conrad
We won't tell the captain; he is as meddlesome as an old woman!
The Adventurous Seven
Bessie Marchant
He loved his little girl; but he thought her much too meddlesome.
The Nursery, January 1873, Vol. XIII.
Various
He was meddlesome, wrong-headed, unreasonable, and bold with it all.
Stories Of Georgia
Joel Chandler Harris
The meddlesome neighbor didn't quite know what answer to make.
The Tale of the The Muley Cow
Arthur Scott Bailey

British Dictionary definitions for meddlesome

meddlesome

adjective

intrusive or meddling

Derived Formsmeddlesomely, adverbmeddlesomeness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for meddlesome

adj.

1610s, from meddle + -some (1). Earlier was medlous "quarrelsome, meddlesome" (mid-15c.). Related: Meddlesomely. Character name Meddlesome Mattie attested from 1814.

meddlesome

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}meddlesome

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for meddlesome

Contemporary Examples

Molly Goldberg was a radio and TV character synonymous with a meddlesome sort of Jewish mother for generations of Americans.

Under Musharraf, the military was seen as meddlesome and oppressive force.

Annoyed, young Rush sends out a pouting "who will rid me of these meddlesome hippies?"

Historical Examples

He was meddlesome with perfect modesty; if he knew a thing or two there was no merit in it.

We won't tell the captain; he is as meddlesome as an old woman!

He loved his little girl; but he thought her much too meddlesome.

He was meddlesome, wrong-headed, unreasonable, and bold with it all.

The meddlesome neighbor didn't quite know what answer to make.

meddlesome

Word Origin and History for meddlesome

adj.

Origin of meddlesome