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 Words From

• med·dling·ly adverb
• un·med·dling adjective
• un·med·dling·ly 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

Thanks to that meddling Franklin and the other editors, Jefferson thought his Declaration had been “mangled.”

From The Daily Beast

The obnoxious meddling journalist is a stock character in fiction.

From The Daily Beast

He laid the blame firmly on meddling by foreign powers sowing civil disobedience.

From The Daily Beast

In return, Egypt has accused Erdogan of making “provocative” statements and meddling in its internal affairs.

From The Daily Beast

For months, Russia had been meddling in the affairs of its neighbor Ukraine without having to pay a serious cost.

From The Daily Beast

The accused malignants, on the other hand, complained bitterly of the impertinence of meddling fanatics and hypocrites.

From Project Gutenberg

There was never an ill thing made better by meddling, that I could hear of.

From Project Gutenberg

He was an ardent reformer of abuses, but with the constitution itself he would have no meddling.

From Project Gutenberg

The report was merely the outcome of the officious meddling of his physician, Addington, and one of Bute's friends.

From Project Gutenberg

Dedmon, here, was out of a job—thanks to you and your meddling—and the steering stunt offered good pay.

From Project Gutenberg