meddle

verb

med·​dle ˈme-dᵊl 

meddled; meddling

ˈmed-liŋ, 

ˈme-dᵊl-iŋ 

intransitive verb

: to interest oneself in what is not one's concern : interfere without right or propriety (see propriety sense 1)

… I never meddle in other people's private affairs …

—George Bernard Shaw

meddler

ˈmed-lər  ˈme-dᵊl-ər 

noun

Synonyms of meddle

• interfere
• mess

Examples of meddle in a Sentence

please stop meddling in your sister's marriage, even though you mean well

Recent Examples on the Web

Although 48% had confidence that there would be not meddling, the concerns expressed were still significant, Schickler said. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

Makary’s initiative to speed up new drug approvals has become the prime example of how much the White House is meddling in the FDA’s affairs. — Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 22 May 2026

Plus, evidently there is no crime or corruption problem in Florida so Uthmeier has lots of free time to meddle in how sports leagues dare align on the side of equal opportunity. — Miami Herald, 14 May 2026

The narrator’s family has moved to an affluent part of Bengaluru, and their attempts to head off meddling outsiders are at times subtle, at times pugnacious, but always hilarious. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English medlen, from Anglo-French mesler, medler, from Vulgar Latin *misculare, from Latin miscēre to mix — more at mix

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for meddle

• bedell
• heddle
• medal
• pedal
• peddle
• wedel
• bipedal
• intermeddle

Kids Definition

meddle

verb

med·​dle ˈmed-ᵊl 

meddled; meddling ˈmed-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

: to interest oneself in what is not one's concern

meddle in another's business

meddler

ˈmed-lər 

-ᵊl-ər

noun