meddling

[med-ling]

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.

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of meddling¹

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

Example Sentences

“Do you mean to say, all the baroness’s meddling...the silly rules, the strict budgets, the meaningless demands for paperwork, the proposed name change...”

Read more on Literature

Echoing language used by Moscow, he added that various NGOs and foundations had used that as a facade for meddling in other countries' internal affairs.

Read more on Barron's

He’s also revived Russian imperialism with his invasion of Ukraine, his political meddling in Moldova and his cyber-interference in the Baltic countries.

Read more on Salon

China was also one of the countries called out for possibly meddling in Canada's 2019 and 2021 elections, prompting a Canadian public inquiry into foreign interference.

Read more on BBC

And pledging future tax revenue from Argentina’s vast agricultural exports risks sparking political pushback in Argentina, where there are already widening concerns of U.S. meddling in domestic affairs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal