Synonyms of meddling

meddling 1 of 3

adjective

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

• busy
• intruding
• interfering
• meddlesome
• officious
• intrusive
• annoying
• obtrusive
• prying
• nosy
• pushy
• pushing
• snoopy
• presumptuous
• rude
• protrusive
• presuming
• invading
• impudent
• brazen
• bumptious
• insolent
• trespassing
• curious
• impertinent
• inquisitive
• overbearing
• harassing
• pestiferous
• bold
• superserviceable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unobtrusive
• uninvolved
• withdrawn
• silent
• quiet
• hands-off
• reclusive
• retiring
• reticent
• inhibited
• restrained
• reserved
• taciturn
• subdued

meddling

2 of 3

noun

as in interference

Related Words

• interference
• assistance
• teaching
• coaching
• mentoring
• preaching
• prompting
• instruction
• tutoring
• briefing
• priming
• moralizing
• kibitzing
• direction
• observation
• lesson
• pontificating
• speech
• verdict
• exhortation
• judgment
• lecture
• warning
• sermon
• solution
• consideration
• data
• remonstrance
• thought
• information
• alert
• cautioning
• remonstration
• expostulation
• forewarning
• advisement
• alarm
• feedback
• answer
• caution
• urging
• tip
• pointer
• hint

meddling

3 of 3

verb

present participle of meddle

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

• interfering
• messing
• snooping
• poking
• intervening
• intruding
• prying
• intermeddling
• interloping
• obtruding
• nosing
• invading
• mucking (about or around)
• butting in
• encroaching
• tampering
• interceding
• fooling
• trespassing
• fiddling
• interposing
• infringing
• playing
• monkeying
• chiseling (in)
• barging (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoiding
• ignoring
• shunning
• neglecting
• disregarding
• eschewing
• overlooking

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of meddling

Adjective

Practical, traditional and somewhat meddling, Aunt Maysilee places importance on societal norms. — Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2026

Noun

The ruling warns that the last-minute intervention could disenfranchise eligible voters, disrupt the midterm election and invite political meddling. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

The prospect of so many challenges has led to intense efforts by voting rights groups, election officials and teams of lawyers to be ready to respond to election meddling anywhere in the country. — Philip Wang, Time, 28 Oct. 2026

But the gesture seemed designed to cast doubt on the French judiciary’s verdict, suggesting that even a supposedly sovereign justice system was vulnerable to American meddling. — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

After 2014, the expansion of Iran’s meddling in Iraq may have additionally driven national solidarity. — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

But with so many armed actors and so much meddling going on in each other’s countries, a regional conflagration becomes increasingly likely. — Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Ethiopia’s double-digit economic growth and large infrastructure plans are vulnerable to the threat of nationwide war and regional meddling. — Cameron Hudson, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026

The pullout, however, leaves a new Iraqi government with the daunting task of loosening Iran’s grip on its neighbor, which has long been trapped in a cycle of sectarianism, foreign meddling and civil conflict. — Sarah Tamimi, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

After the Bronx Zoo 1970s, the Yankees started the ’80s strong, but his meddling turned him into a punchline. — Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Verb

Lula seized on these acts as meddling in the campaign, and as an assault on Brazilian sovereignty encouraged by the Bolsonaro family. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026

Marrero, who has also found himself at odds with the board, has accused members of meddling in the day-to-day operations of the district. — Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2026

The executive class views meddling from the owner’s suite as part of the job. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Which of these adults will have their real estate crimes interrupted by those meddling kids and their puppy? — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

There are already examples of people meddling in real-world events for a payout. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Francis had been meddling in Elijah’s music career for a few weeks and their feud has gone from the studio to the ring. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Emma Woodhouse entertains herself by meddling in the romantic affairs of her neighbors. — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026

This has unsettled some Pentagon officials who fear the scrutiny will invite meddling. — Doug Beck, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026