Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Officious; unwarrantably busy or officiously interposing in other men's affairs: as, a meddling neighbor.
  • noun The act or habit of interfering in matters not of one's proper concern.
  • noun Contention in battle; fighting.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Meddlesome.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective That meddles.
  • noun Action of the verb meddle.
  • verb Present participle of meddle.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the act of altering something secretly or improperly
  • adjective intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner

Etymologies

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Examples

  • In addition to that political context, the word meddling gives an audacious or severe rightness to the action of this particular poem and its fabric: In another emotional context, meddling would not feel right as a term for poetic striving for something more ambitious or more glorious? than simply to please.

    Slate Articles Robert Pinsky 2011

  • He criticized the the United States for what he called meddling in Egyptian affairs.

    Iran expresses support for protests in Egypt and North Africa 2011

  • This is likely to provoke more anger from Hillary's major supporters, who have expressed fury at Dean for statements like this, which they characterize as meddling in the Dem primary.

    Howard Dean: Party Elders All Agree Race Shouldn't Go To Convention 2009

  • The BBC adds: Iran has singled out Britain and the BBC in its widespread condemnation of what it calls meddling by foreign powers in its affairs.

    Iran Election Live-Blogging (Sunday June 21) The Huffington Post News Team 2009

  • This is likely to provoke more anger from Hillary's major supporters, who have expressed fury at Dean for statements like this, which they characterize as meddling in the Dem primary.

    Howard Dean: Party Elders All Agree Race Shouldn't Go To Convention 2009

  • On Nov. 3, Mr. Musharraf suspended the constitution and said he was imposing emergency rule because of an Islamist insurgency and because of what he called the meddling of the judiciary.

    End of Pakistan's Emergency Rule Set 2007

  • But, with a sly laugh, he notes he has some name recognition - due to what he calls meddling by "a faction in the government."

    ANC Daily News Briefing 2006

  • He rails against the Department of Energy for what he calls meddling in local energy development, and wants a smaller Department of Education, which he says is "encroaching on local parents and educators."

    Vail Daily - Top Stories 2010

  • Gbagbo's camp rejects what it calls meddling by foreigner.

    Yahoo! News: Business - Opinion 2010

  • Gbagbo himself has said little in public since the vote, but his camp has been adamant in condemning what it calls meddling in its internal affairs and has shown no sign of giving in.

    Yahoo! News: Business - Opinion 2010

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