meddle

IPA/ˈmedl/
KK[mˈɛdəl]IPA/ˈmedl/

meddle — verb

  • meddlepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • meddleshe / she / it
  • meddledpast simple
  • meddling-ing form

1. to step into another person's plans, relationships, or decisions even though the

1.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

to step into another person's plans, relationships, or decisions even though they are not yours to control, usually in a way that annoys people or makes problems worse

Example

Amira kept meddling in her sister's wedding plans despite repeated warnings.

meddle in + someone's plans

The coach told parents not to meddle in the team's training decisions.

tell someone not to meddle in ...

Common collocations
  • meddle in family matters
  • meddle in someone else's relationship
  • meddle in local politics
  • meddle in other people's affairs
Synonyms
  • interfere

    broader and more neutral; it can also refer to processes or machines

  • butt in

    more informal and often used for entering a conversation or situation suddenly

  • pry

    focuses more on finding out private information than on trying to control events

  • intrude

    more general and can describe entering a place or situation where you are not wanted

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

meddle in + someone else's plans/affairs/decisions

Usage Note

Meddle is strongly negative and usually takes 'in' before the matter you interfere with. It often suggests unwanted involvement in other people's private plans, relationships, or decisions rather than neutral participation.

Common Mistakes

She meddled my plans.
She meddled in my plans.
meddle usually takes 'in' before the thing you interfere with.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe unwanted involvement, but they point to different kinds of behavior. Meddle is strongly disapproving and usually means getting into another person's private plans, choices, or relationships when you have no proper role there. Interfere is broader and can describe blocking a process or affecting a result, not only other people's lives. Butt in is more informal and often suggests suddenly joining a conversation or situation without being invited. Pry focuses on trying to find out private information, while intrude is the widest word and can refer to entering a space, discussion, or personal matter where you are not wanted. A relative might meddle in wedding plans, a loud guest might butt in, a reporter might pry into emails, and a stranger might intrude on a family meeting.

interfere ↗butt in ↗pry ↗intrude ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • meddle in family matters
  • meddle in other people's affairs
  • meddle in the hiring process

Prepositions