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.

---

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

Explanation

Meddling is getting involved in something despite that fact that your participation is completely unwanted. If your parents planned out your entire social life, you'd be justified in accusing them of meddling. To meddle is to "interfere in something that's not your concern," and it comes from a root meaning "to mix." Meddling can be used as a noun or as an adjective, to describe annoying people who poke their noses into your business. If you've ever watched old Scooby Doo cartoons, you've heard a villain complain about "those meddling kids!"

Example Sentences

"I am against any country in the world meddling and exercising political interference," he said last month.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

On the hard-news side, she bungled big moments like an interview with Vladimir Putin, who batted away her questions about 2016 election meddling with an exasperated performance of ignorance.

From Slate • May 6, 2026

Mickey D’s not only gave the directors the rights to tell the story, but also provided game footage while steering clear of editorial meddling.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

Ethiopia has also accused Eritrea of meddling by backing Tigrayan forces, which it denies.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

This was considered an awkward interruption, disrupting as it did the critical debate over the assumption and residency questions with an inflammatory proposal that several southern representatives immediately denounced as mischievous meddling.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis