meddling
Unwelcome nose-poking
Meddling is interfering in matters that aren't your business.
A meddling neighbor offers unsolicited opinions on your parenting.
A meddling government intrudes into private affairs.
The word carries disapproval—meddling implies unwanted involvement: Stop meddling in my life.
Someone who meddles is a meddler; the verb is meddle.
Intrusively curious
- pryingIntrusively inquisitive
- snoopOne who pries
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- yentaNosy, meddling woman
kibitzer · tattletale · blabbermouth · eavesdropper · intriguer · whisperer · talebearer · rubberneck
Intrusively inquisitive
- eavesdroppingSecretly listening to others
- spyingSecretly observing others
- snoopingSecretly investigating others
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
wiretapping · bugging · checking phone · stalking · tracking · monitoring · peeping · shadowing
Invading others' privacy
- officiousIntrusively asserting authority
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- presumptuousOverstepping appropriate boundaries
- impertinentRudely presumptuous
obtrusive · annoying · bothersome · uninvited · unwanted · interfering · invasive · pushy
Coming between to affect
- oversteppingExceeding appropriate bounds
- overreachExceed one's capacity
- tamperingImproper interference with something
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
disruption · butting in · micromanaging · second-guessing · backseat driving · unsolicited advice · crossing boundaries
Crafty and calculating
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- deviousUnderhanded and calculating
crafty · insidious · underhanded · machinating · pulling strings · orchestrating · engineering · puppeteering
Purposeful involvement to change course
- sanctionsPunitive international restrictions
- embargoOfficial prohibition on trade
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- regime changeReplacement of governing power
foreign policy · diplomatic · sovereignty · autonomy · colonialism · imperialism · puppet state · proxy
nosey
Intrusively curious
yenta · kibitzer · tattletale · blabbermouth · eavesdropper · intriguer · whisperer · talebearer · rubberneck · gawker
prying
Intrusively inquisitive
- eavesdroppingSecretly listening to others
- spyingSecretly observing others
- snoopingSecretly investigating others
surveillance · wiretapping · bugging · checking phone · stalking · tracking · monitoring · peeping · shadowing · tailing
intrusive
Invading others' privacy
- officiousIntrusively asserting authority
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
- presumptuousOverstepping appropriate boundaries
impertinent · obtrusive · annoying · bothersome · uninvited · unwanted · interfering · invasive · pushy · forward
intervening
Coming between to affect
- oversteppingExceeding appropriate bounds
- overreachExceed one's capacity
- tamperingImproper interference with something
obstruction · disruption · butting in · micromanaging · second-guessing · backseat driving · unsolicited advice · crossing boundaries
scheming
Crafty and calculating
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
devious · crafty · insidious · underhanded · machinating · pulling strings · orchestrating · engineering · puppeteering · string-pulling
intervention
Purposeful involvement to change course
- sanctionsPunitive international restrictions
- embargoOfficial prohibition on trade
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
regime change · foreign policy · diplomatic · sovereignty · autonomy · colonialism · imperialism · puppet state · proxy · sphere of influence
- family dramafamily bonds, sibling rivalry, family reunion, kinship, family secret
- family dynamicsfamily dynamics, family roles, family therapy, sibling rivalry, parenting
- gossiprumor, rumors, gossip, hearsay, whisper
- interferenceinterfering, intruding, butting in, obstructing, impeding
- pet peevesannoyance, loud chewing, irritation, loud talking, frustration
- fiddlingfiddling, fiddle, fiddler, fiddle tune, fiddle tunes
meddlingnon-interference
Abstaining from meddling
hands-off · uninvolved · nonintervention · keeping out · abstaining
meddlingreserved
Restrained in manner
discreet · withdrawn · taciturn · unobtrusive · reticent
meddlinghelpful
Giving useful aid
supportive · assisting · aiding · constructive · respectful
muddle, meddle, meddlesome, meddler, miscellany, miscellaneous, meddled, meddles, meddlers