Synonym Chooser

How is the word interfere different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of interfere are intercede, interpose, intervene, and mediate. While all these words mean "to come or go between," interfere implies hindering.

noise interfered with my concentration

When is intercede a more appropriate choice than interfere?

The words intercede and interfere can be used in similar contexts, but intercede implies acting for an offender in begging mercy or forgiveness.

interceded on our behalf

When can interpose be used instead of interfere?

The meanings of interpose and interfere largely overlap; however, interpose often implies no more than this.

interposed herself between him and the door

Where would intervene be a reasonable alternative to interfere?

While the synonyms intervene and interfere are close in meaning, intervene may imply an occurring in space or time between two things or a stepping in to stop a conflict.

quarreled until the manager intervened

In what contexts can mediate take the place of interfere?

While in some cases nearly identical to interfere, mediate implies intervening between hostile factions.

mediated between the parties

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of interfere Weiser, Polis and the state's top water official — state engineer Jason Ullman — denied Nebraska's claims that Colorado interfered in its attempts to build the canal and denied the allegations that Colorado is not meeting the requirements of the compact. Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025 This Ministry frequently interferes in employers’ decisions, instigates acts of discrimination by authorities and organizations, brings weight to bear on the organs of justice and even orchestrates propaganda campaigns in the media. Jonny Diamond, Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025 The engineers explain that the robot’s balance and locomotion have been trained in a simulated environment with slopes, obstacles, and interfering forces, where it has been run for hundreds of thousands of virtual hours. Billy Perrigo, Time, 9 Oct. 2025 Fiscal rules left broken Officials in Brussels are unlikely to want to appear to be interfering in domestic political affairs, but the pressure is on for Paris to embark on some serious fiscal consolidation — and fast. Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for interfere
Recent Examples of Synonyms for interfere
Verb
  • This cordless hand vacuum tackles messes on furniture, in the car, and all kinds of nooks and crannies thanks to its lightweight, compact design, extra-large dust cup capacity, and accessories like a crevice tool, scrubbing brush, and a self-cleaning pet power brush.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The internet already messed her up pretty good.
    Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Olympia is still looking for Senior’s mystery woman and decides to snoop through his Rolodex — old school!
    Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 12 Oct. 2025
  • There also are characters straight from the David Lynch school of the bizarre, including the menacing figure who warns Ron to stop snooping around and the bearer of a disturbing story about a manufacturing job that requires being nude.
    Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Extreme weather is battering installations from Guam to North Carolina and fueling instability in regions overseas where American forces may be called to intervene.
    Ames Alexander, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Urbana always had a conservative bent, but its politics have become a defining feature in the intervening years.
    Grace Byron, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • One poked his head into the live shot and later stuck his hand into the frame, seemingly seeking a fist bump from the reporter.
    Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Kean himself gets a tattoo hand-poked into his skin and applies medieval salves to his wounds.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Brennan, who was not immediately available for comment, has denied wrongdoing, especially in his role helping lead a sprawling multiagency investigation into whether Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election to help Trump defeat Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
    Josh Meyer, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
  • But Trump has already indicated a willingness to meddle in the workings of media companies — and given his closeness with the Ellison clan, he’s widely expected to weigh in.
    Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • If a relatively unknown freelance journalist was suddenly intruding on their good time, perhaps someone had put him up to it.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
  • However, as time passes, Lea becomes obsessed with Rocco, leading her to increasingly intrude into his life and taking the story in an unexpected and unsettling direction.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Interfere.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/interfere. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on interfere

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