meddling

American  

[med-ling] / ˈmɛd lɪŋ /

adjective

1. interfering or getting involved in a matter without any right or invitation.

   Comedic complications arise when a meddling friend attempts to rekindle the spark in the couple’s tired marriage.

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noun

1. the act or habit of interfering or getting involved in something without any right or invitation.

   The company will work independently, and there won't be any meddling by the government.

Other Word Forms

• meddlingly adverb
• unmeddling adjective
• unmeddlingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of meddling

First recorded in 1375–1425; meddle ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective; meddle ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun

Example Sentences

To protect the government’s cash cow, politicians avoided meddling in PdVSA, which was run by highly trained engineers and other professionals.

From The Wall Street Journal

Smith affirmed Thursday that she "would expect that the US administration would respect Canadian sovereignty," and said she would raise any issues related to referendum meddling with Washington.

From Barron's

Wednesday's verdict, however, will focus on Kim allegedly accepting other bribes from the Unification Church, as well as her alleged involvement in Deutsch Motors stock manipulation and alleged election meddling.

From BBC

But Hamilton’s belief that the Western Hemisphere should be closed to European meddling was memorialized in 1823’s Monroe Doctrine External link.

From Barron's

But Hamilton’s belief that the Western Hemisphere should be closed to European meddling was memorialized in 1823’s Monroe Doctrine External link.

From Barron's