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• withdrawn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 exceptions were few and notoriously corrupt (such as Richard Nixon’s meddling in an antitrust lawsuit against the International Telephone & Telegraph Corporation in exchange for a financial donation to the Republican National Convention). — James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026

Thanks to the meddling of Q junior Trelane (Rhys Darby), the ship's lighting is slightly off, day-to-day operations are punctuated by ad breaks, and the crew has developed a tendency to stare wistfully into the middle distance. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2026

The festering frustrations over Moreno’s meddling and middling tenure as owner were on full display throughout what is now the team’s 11th consecutive losing season. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026

On one hand, Fed independence from political meddling has traditionally been considered key to its ability to control inflation. — Paul Wachtel, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026

Mel might be a disaster with her loud mouth and impolite antics, but her over-the-top meddling does her buddies some good. — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Their meddling repeatedly yielded devastating outcomes, however, contributing to a military coup in Egypt and several civil wars. — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Continue reading … OPINION HUGH HEWITT — Supreme Court should let Trump secure the White House without judicial meddling. — FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Recent history suggests that the only effective counter to such meddling is a public statement alerting voters to the deception, by some credibly neutral, nonpartisan authority. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Verb

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

Recent events involving a former ICC Prosecutor accused of improperly meddling in the dispute between the South Caucasus nations of Armenia and Azerbaijan show why Congress and the State Department have had reason to be so concerned. — Daniel Markind, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Carlisle’s exit came at a time of turbulence for 60 Minutes, which has been rocked by accusations of meddling under new ownership from David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026