as in busy
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited
the bride's parents promised that they would never be meddling in-laws
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in interference
Related Words
as in interfering
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern
please stop meddling in your sister's marriage, even though you mean well
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of meddling
Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2026
Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Mar. 2026
Robert Mueller, a former FBI director who led the investigation into allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election, has died, his family confirmed to CBS News on Saturday.
—Julia Kimani-Burnham, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Craig basically blames this breakup on Salley meddling in their business.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
The statement also contained a warning to Iran regarding its meddling in the conflict.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Frustration at Iran’s meddling in other countries Still, Ozcelik noted the potentially violent backlash could be tempered by growing frustration, even among Shiite populations, at Iran’s meddling in other countries’ affairs.
—Elena Becatoros, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Google has not been banned outright, though Google Maps is sometimes disrupted by government meddling.
—Sophie Spiegelberger, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
Thus the grab-bag approach of anything that might sniff of cost-reduction, including price controls and market meddling.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2026
In the Tokyo context, it’s believed that silence on such matters actually helps to protect the BOJ from political meddling.
—William Pesek, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Ambassadors who spoke with me did so on the condition of anonymity to avoid the appearance of meddling in domestic politics.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Meet the next generation of meddling kids.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
But recently, the federal government started meddling.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 25 Feb. 2026
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
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
That does lend itself to meddling in Central and South America.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Practical, traditional and somewhat meddling, Aunt Maysilee places importance on societal norms.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
Hugo erred on the side of religious tolerance, while accepting state meddling in church affairs, positions that pleased no one in power.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Mar. 2026
Robert Mueller, a former FBI director who led the investigation into allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election, has died, his family confirmed to CBS News on Saturday.
—Julia Kimani-Burnham, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Craig basically blames this breakup on Salley meddling in their business.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
The statement also contained a warning to Iran regarding its meddling in the conflict.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Frustration at Iran’s meddling in other countries Still, Ozcelik noted the potentially violent backlash could be tempered by growing frustration, even among Shiite populations, at Iran’s meddling in other countries’ affairs.
—Elena Becatoros, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Google has not been banned outright, though Google Maps is sometimes disrupted by government meddling.
—Sophie Spiegelberger, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
Thus the grab-bag approach of anything that might sniff of cost-reduction, including price controls and market meddling.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2026
In the Tokyo context, it’s believed that silence on such matters actually helps to protect the BOJ from political meddling.
—William Pesek, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
As the Hungarian election approaches, media reports have suggested Russian secret services were meddling to tip Sunday’s vote in Orbán’s favor, something Russia denied.
—Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Ambassadors who spoke with me did so on the condition of anonymity to avoid the appearance of meddling in domestic politics.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Meet the next generation of meddling kids.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
But recently, the federal government started meddling.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 25 Feb. 2026
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
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
That does lend itself to meddling in Central and South America.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meddling
Adjective
-
The café is serviceable and busy all the time.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Grand Central Terminal, one of the city’s busiest transit hubs, serves not only daily commuters, but also draws thousands of tourists each day.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Several figures from the Russian election interference saga, including former CIA Director John Brennan, have been subpoenaed as part of a probe by federal prosecutors in Florida.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Margo starts an OnlyFans account to pay the bills, all while running interference between her colorful mother (Michelle Pfeiffer), a former Hooters waitress, and her semi-estranged father (Nick Offerman), an ex-pro wrestler who moves in with Margo during his own moment of transition.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Orbán and his allies, including US Vice President JD Vance, who traveled to Budapest this week to endorse the prime minister, have accused the EU of interfering in Hungary’s election over the bloc’s withholding of funding.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Reiser also faulted Adam Cohen for interfering in the sale of his father’s music catalog to Hipgnosis.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The fighting has pushed many people into famine, caused a huge displacement crisis and left over 30 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Equally impactful, United Way’s WomenRise program provided $500 in cash assistance per month for one year that gave me the autonomy to meet our most immediate needs.—
Delilah Lopez,
Denver Post,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Stop messing with Wedgie, already.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Why are people messing with those cute little robots?—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The unit's playing time in those games had been limited by a combination of blowouts (wins and losses), minute restrictions (Aaron Gordon) and meddlesome minor injuries (Jamal Murray's ankle and shoulder).—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Woody Johnson is known to be meddlesome, impatient and easily influenced by headlines.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Rue takes to this teaching like the Torah, ogling the girls grinding for bills with a fervor that mimics that of a religious revelation.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
-
In between teaching and training, Wilkins helped coach South’s throwers.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When Sonny eventually passes out, Chee starts doing some snooping around.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Thornton, a vice president of strategic communications who has worked downtown for 17 years, including a decade with AIMCLEAR, was no stranger to snooping on behalf of his colleagues and his employer.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
5 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Meddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meddling. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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