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

Concerns about meddling As an act of transparency, Fulton County officials invited media to the same sprawling elections hub where FBI agents seized more than 650 boxes of ballots and other 2020 election records nine months ago. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Republicans have engaged in similar practices to meddle openly on the Democratic side of the ticket. — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 29 Oct. 2026

Thousands of retirees and others marched in Spain's capital Saturday to demand public pensions aren’t meddled with. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Thousands of retirees and others marched in Spain’s capital Saturday to demand public pensions aren’t meddled with. — Colleen Barry, Fortune, 24 Oct. 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