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
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Recent Examples of meddling
Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2026
Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
Although 48% had confidence that there would be no meddling, the concerns expressed were still significant, said political scientist Eric Schickler, co-director of the institute.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Ultrabillionaire Jeff Bezos on Wednesday hyped artificial intelligence, blamed government meddling for economic woes and broadly defended himself and his mega-rich peers in an exclusive interview with CNBC.
—Kevin Breuninger,annie Palmer, CNBC, 20 May 2026
Kennedy’s move to reshape the CDC panel—the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP—came amid Kennedy’s many other attempts to undermine it, as well as a court order to undo that meddling.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026
To suggest that there would be any weird nefarious meddling here, okay?
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
Nebraska Democrats decried his last-minute candidacy as an example of the GOP meddling in their primary with a scheme to siphon votes away from Osborn in the fall.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 13 May 2026
On Tuesday, the New York Times reported that the Congressional Leadership Fund is one of two Republican super PACs meddling in Democratic congressional primaries across the country to promote more progressive candidates.
—Mathew Miranda
may 13, Sacbee.com, 13 May 2026
In a bid to (sort of) preemptively defend itself against regulatory meddling, league officials earlier this month gave advisors to FCC chairman Brendan Carr a presentation designed to underscore the NFL’s commitment to over-the-air television.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 1 May 2026
Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
And a nod to president of baseball operations and general manager Alex Anthopoulos for not meddling with the lineup — and having the smarts to trade for Dubón in the first place.
—Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 6 June 2026
The narrator’s family has moved to an affluent part of Bengaluru, and their attempts to head off meddling outsiders are at times subtle, at times pugnacious, but always hilarious.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 27 May 2026
Adam’s devious plan and meddling soon sets everything, and everyone, spiraling out of control.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 May 2026
But this is a sitting legislator that’s meddling in races in the other body against an incumbent.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 8 May 2026
However, life soon started meddling in her plans.
—Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 8 May 2026
The source said the owners aren’t meddling in routine day-to-day operations.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
The Italian host nation went on to win the tournament, but it was soiled by accusations of meddling from Mussolini.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Practical, traditional and somewhat meddling, Aunt Maysilee places importance on societal norms.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
Despite the studio's meddling and polarizing reactions at the time of release, Lang's efforts still impressed viewers, and in the decades that followed, many attempts were made to restore Lang's vision to varying degrees of success.
—Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
Although 48% had confidence that there would be no meddling, the concerns expressed were still significant, said political scientist Eric Schickler, co-director of the institute.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Ultrabillionaire Jeff Bezos on Wednesday hyped artificial intelligence, blamed government meddling for economic woes and broadly defended himself and his mega-rich peers in an exclusive interview with CNBC.
—Kevin Breuninger,annie Palmer, CNBC, 20 May 2026
Kennedy’s move to reshape the CDC panel—the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP—came amid Kennedy’s many other attempts to undermine it, as well as a court order to undo that meddling.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026
To suggest that there would be any weird nefarious meddling here, okay?
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
Nebraska Democrats decried his last-minute candidacy as an example of the GOP meddling in their primary with a scheme to siphon votes away from Osborn in the fall.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 13 May 2026
On Tuesday, the New York Times reported that the Congressional Leadership Fund is one of two Republican super PACs meddling in Democratic congressional primaries across the country to promote more progressive candidates.
—Mathew Miranda
may 13, Sacbee.com, 13 May 2026
In a bid to (sort of) preemptively defend itself against regulatory meddling, league officials earlier this month gave advisors to FCC chairman Brendan Carr a presentation designed to underscore the NFL’s commitment to over-the-air television.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 1 May 2026
Verb
Although 48% had confidence that there would be not meddling, the concerns expressed were still significant, Schickler said.
—Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
And a nod to president of baseball operations and general manager Alex Anthopoulos for not meddling with the lineup — and having the smarts to trade for Dubón in the first place.
—Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 6 June 2026
The narrator’s family has moved to an affluent part of Bengaluru, and their attempts to head off meddling outsiders are at times subtle, at times pugnacious, but always hilarious.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 27 May 2026
Adam’s devious plan and meddling soon sets everything, and everyone, spiraling out of control.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 May 2026
But this is a sitting legislator that’s meddling in races in the other body against an incumbent.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 8 May 2026
However, life soon started meddling in her plans.
—Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 8 May 2026
The source said the owners aren’t meddling in routine day-to-day operations.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
The Italian host nation went on to win the tournament, but it was soiled by accusations of meddling from Mussolini.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meddling
Adjective
-
Vanderbilt now runs the nation's third busiest transplant center, which saved 136 more critically ill patients in 2024 compared to the previous year.—
Beth Warren,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Established in 1924, the Nogales Border Patrol Station is the second-largest station and one of the busiest sectors in the country, covering 27 miles of rugged territory.—
Suzanne Wright,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Cody James Maluck, 32, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Atlanta on June 9 for interference with crew members or attendants, considered a federal crime.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
11 June 2026
-
Blocking a merger based on potential interference to newsroom decision-making, the studio warns, could allow courts to start regulating editorial outcomes in violation of the First Amendment.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Making decisions that are the prerogative of grieving family members usually gets you in trouble; refraining from interfering does not.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
-
The Department of Justice had at one point investigated whether Pulte and his team were interfering in ongoing investigations.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
The fact is, in a newsroom full of meddlesome, sometimes pushy people, Beverly was none of that.—
Brad Schmitt,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The special ops unit chases every lead possible, from bribes to Mexican drug cartels, a meddlesome L.A. District Attorney (Merrick McCartha) and corruption in the government of Belarus.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
Ecumenical Hunger Program did administer a Family Sustainability Program that was started during COVID that provided financial assistance to families in need in our community.—
Sooji Nam,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
Christie’s is planning to open a boutique wine shop at its headquarters in Rockefeller Center, thanks in part to assistance from New York state legislators who passed a law allowing the auction house to get around a regulation dating back more than a century.—
Andy Battaglia,
ARTnews.com,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
That there are hosts who prefer to provide all the refreshments — or are infuriated to have others messing in their kitchens — is dismissed as insincere politeness.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The last two seasons have proven that the team starts off slow, which ends up messing their chances of making the playoffs.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Lee will play Maya, the officious Chief of Staff for the Governor of Oklahoma.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
18 May 2026
-
Her Southern accent is slightly clipped and officious, the type of drawl that’s a stamp of a suburban upbringing.—
Alex Morris,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Now a graduate teaching fellow, Elom Tettey-Tamaklo advises faculty despite past controversy.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
11 Dec. 2025
-
There is rarely a day that Kaposy doesn't stay late to cover an athletic event or update information on athletic social media or websites while never letting his teaching suffer.—
Andy Humbles,
Nashville Tennessean,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Meddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meddling. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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