meddle

[ med-l ]

/ ˈmɛd l /

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See synonyms for: meddle / meddling / meddler on Thesaurus.com

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!

OTHER WORDS FOR meddle

intervene, intrude, pry.

See synonyms for meddle on Thesaurus.com

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The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.

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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

OTHER WORDS FROM meddle

meddler, nounmed·dling·ly, adverbo·ver·med·dle, verb (used without object), o·ver·med·dled, o·ver·med·dling.un·med·dled, adjective

un·med·dling, adjectiveun·med·dling·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH meddle

medal, meddle , metal, mettle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use meddle in a sentence

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|DAILY BEAST
The obnoxious meddling journalist is a stock character in fiction.
I Blame People Who Blame the Media: Robert McCulloch’s Tone-Deaf Speech|Arthur Chu|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He laid the blame firmly on meddling by foreign powers sowing civil disobedience.
Hong Kong Between Calm and Chaos|Ben Leung|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
The accused malignants, on the other hand, complained bitterly of the impertinence of meddling fanatics and hypocrites.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
There was never an ill thing made better by meddling, that I could hear of.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson, Volume XXI|Robert Louis Stevenson
He was an ardent reformer of abuses, but with the constitution itself he would have no meddling.
The Political History of England - Vol. X.|William Hunt
The report was merely the outcome of the officious meddling of his physician, Addington, and one of Bute's friends.
The Political History of England - Vol. X.|William Hunt
Dedmon, here, was out of a job—thanks to you and your meddling—and the steering stunt offered good pay.
The Wreckers|Francis Lynde

British Dictionary definitions for meddle

meddle

/ (ˈmɛdəl) /

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 forms of meddle

meddler, 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

meddle

OTHER WORDS FOR meddle

Origin of meddle

OTHER WORDS FROM meddle

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH meddle

Words related to meddle

How to use meddle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for meddle

Derived forms of meddle

Word Origin for meddle