meddle

[med-l]

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verb (used without object), med·dled, med·dling.

to involve oneself in a matter without right or invitation; interfere officiously and unwantedly: Stop meddling in my personal life!

Origin of meddle

1250–1300; Middle English medlen < Old French me(s)dler, variant of mesler (French mêler) < Vulgar Latin *misculāre, frequentative of Latin miscēre to mix

Related formsmed·dler, nounmed·dling·ly, adverbo·ver·med·dle, verb (used without object), o·ver·med·dled, o·ver·med·dling.un·med·dled, adjectiveun·med·dling, adjectiveun·med·dling·ly, adverb

Can be confusedmedal meddle metal mettle

Synonyms for meddle

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR meddle ON THESAURUS.COM

intervene, intrude, pry.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for meddling

interference, nosiness, prying, snooping, interrupting

Examples from the Web for meddling

Contemporary Examples of meddling

Thanks to that meddling Franklin and the other editors, Jefferson thought his Declaration had been “mangled.”
Forget the Resolutions; Try a Few Declarations
Kevin Bleyer
January 1, 2015
He laid the blame firmly on meddling by foreign powers sowing civil disobedience.
Hong Kong Between Calm and Chaos
Ben Leung
October 3, 2014
In return, Egypt has accused Erdogan of making “provocative” statements and meddling in its internal affairs.
Turkey Takes in ‘Terrorists’ from the Muslim Brotherhood
Thomas Seibert
September 19, 2014
For months, Russia had been meddling in the affairs of its neighbor Ukraine without having to pay a serious cost.
It’s Finally Time for the West to Stand Up to Putin
James Kirchick
July 18, 2014
As long as they abide by their own internal rules of governance, the secular society imposes no meddling restrictions.
A Victory for ‘Religious Freedom’ is a Loss for Religion
Gene Robinson
June 8, 2014

Historical Examples of meddling

It serves him right for meddling with matters that don't concern him.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
You know there is an awkwardness in my meddling ever so cautiously.
The Room in the Dragon Volant
J. Sheridan LeFanu
And here too it'll be a case of meddling with forces you don't understand.
The Coryston Family
Mrs. Humphry Ward
Add to it here the direct influence and meddling of the head-quarters.
Diary from November 12, 1862, to October 18, 1863
Adam Gurowski
You are more likely to do harm than good by meddling with it.
The Avenger
E. Phillips Oppenheim

British Dictionary definitions for meddling

meddle

verb (intr)

(usually foll by with) to interfere officiously or annoyingly

(usually foll by in) to involve oneself unwarrantedlyto meddle in someone's private affairs

Derived Formsmeddler, nounmeddling, adjectivemeddlingly, adverb

Word Origin for meddle

C14: from Old French medler, ultimately from Latin miscēre to mix

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 meddling

"action of blending," mid-14c., from present participle of meddle (v.). Meaning "action of taking part, interference" is late 14c. As a past participle adjective, from 1520s. Related: Meddlingly.

meddle

early 14c., "to mingle, blend, mix," from Old North French medler (Old French mesler, 12c., Modern French mêler) "to mix, mingle, to meddle," from Vulgar Latin *misculare (source of Provençal mesclar, Spanish mezclar, Italian mescolare, meschiare), from Latin miscere "to mix" (see mix (v.)). From late 14c. as "busy oneself, be concerned with, engage in;" also disparagingly "interfere, be officious, make a nuisance of oneself" (the notion is of meddling too much). From mid-14c. to 1700, it also was a euphemism for "have sexual intercourse." Related: Meddled; meddling.