meddle

verb

med·​dle ˈme-dᵊl 

meddled; meddling

ˈmed-liŋ,

ˈme-dᵊl-iŋ 

intransitive verb

: to interest oneself in what is not one's concern : interfere without right or propriety (see propriety sense 1)

I never meddle in other people's private affairs

—G. B. Shaw

meddler

ˈmed-lər  ˈme-dᵊl-ər 

noun

Synonyms

• butt in
• interfere
• interlope
• intermeddle
• intrude
• mess
• muck (about or around)
• nose
• obtrude
• poke
• pry
• snoop

Examples of meddle in a Sentence

please stop meddling in your sister's marriage, even though you mean well

Recent Examples on the Web

And why would Strum and Memorial’s board eliminate staff who were part of the culture that brought Memorial such success, while meddling with physicians’ contracts? —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2025

Some doctors saw it as meddling in their medical practices, while some GOP Congress members viewed it as duplicating the mission of the National Institutes of Health. —Arthur Allen, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025

Sales have slumped across Europe where Musk tried to meddle in local politics, and have dropped on a global level, while the company's stock prices have also plummeted. —Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025

Trump isn’t bothered by Putin for the ex-KGB colonel’s consistent efforts to meddle in U.S. elections, his unprovoked invasion of a peaceful neighbor and constant threatening of the NATO alliance. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English medlen, from Anglo-French mesler, medler, from Vulgar Latin *misculare, from Latin miscēre to mix — more at mix

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for meddle

• bedell
• heddle
• medal
• pedal
• peddle
• wedel
• bipedal
• intermeddle

Kids Definition

meddle

verb

med·​dle ˈmed-ᵊl 

meddled; meddling ˈmed-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

: to interest oneself in what is not one's concern

meddle in another's business

meddler

ˈmed-lər 

-ᵊl-ər

noun