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

Williams, 40, faces a whisper campaign of criticism for communication lapses, meddling in police operations, and filling jobs with former colleagues from her previous employer, Miami Beach. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026

Set three years after the Imjin War, Kingdom sees a mysterious plague spreading throughout the Joseon Dynasty, which is sure to meddle in the various political conspiracies. —Sammi Burke, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Feb. 2026

The league has enough meddling owners and microphone fiends. —Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026

All's fair in love and war — an idiom that Cressida (second from left, played by Jessica Madsen) and her meddling mama would do well to remember while courting the Prince! —Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 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