meddling

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "meddling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the act of interfering in someone else's affairs or business, often in a way that is unwanted or unwelcome. Example: "She was accused of meddling in her neighbor's personal matters, which caused tension between them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On Thursday, the Russian president, Vladmir Putin, accused the US of meddling in a bid to undermine the 2018 World Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

Salmond was stunned by the unexpected concession, which seemed to have deprived him of the opportunity to attack Westminster for meddling in Scottish matters.

The Guardian

Deborah talks about politicians not playing to their strengths when meddling in the day-to-day, but also believes the service's political profile can only be a good thing.

The Guardian

Charles's letter-writing habit has been criticised as "meddling" by some, but the prince believes it is a legitimate part of his preparations to become king.

The Guardian

NBC's remake of BBC2 comedy Coupling was axed after four episodes in 2003, with creator Steven Moffat – now Doctor Who showrunner – memorably berating the network for meddling with the show.

The Guardian

Putin accused the US of "meddling" abroad and an "illegal overreach" of its powers after the US attorney general announced fraud charges against nine senior current or former Fifa officials on Wednesday.

The Guardian - Sport

This meddling reflex led Sanderson and her colleagues, the cables show, to try to torpedo Préval's PetroCaribe deal with Venezuela, to help block a minimum wage hike to $5 a day (winning $3 a day, instead), and to rubberstamp and pay for an election that they knew was flawed from the start.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Times, even though its leading article was critical of Prince Charles for meddling in politics, managed to overlook the Guardian's role in exposing the meddling.

The Guardian

Charles has long been accused of meddling in matters of government, but, aside from a few leaks, the public knew little of what he had actually been doing.

The Guardian

At Chequers, Thatcher personally confronted Gorbachev and protested that the Soviet Union was meddling in British matters and would help to prolong the strike by giving the cash.

The Guardian

The city hall staged a massive protest gathering at the time, led by Ian Paisley and James Molyneaux, which was designed to highlight unionist disgust at the British and Irish governments' meddling in Northern Irish affairs.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "meddling", ensure the context clearly indicates the interference is unwelcome or inappropriate. Providing specific examples of the meddling action will strengthen your point.

Common error

Avoid using "meddling" when the intervention is genuinely helpful or invited. Opt for terms like "assisting" or "supporting" in such scenarios to avoid negative connotations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "meddling" is a gerund or present participle, often used as a noun or adjective to describe the act of interfering in something. Ludwig AI supports this, providing many examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "meddling" functions as a gerund or present participle, typically used to negatively describe unwarranted interference. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is commonly found in news and media, business, and scientific contexts. When employing "meddling", ensure the situation involves unwelcome interference and consider alternatives like "interfering" or "intruding" to fine-tune the connotation. Avoid using it in situations where involvement is invited or helpful. Overall, understanding the nuances of "meddling" can significantly improve the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

interfering

Focuses on the act of getting involved in something without permission or necessity.

intruding

Emphasizes the unwelcome or disruptive nature of the involvement.

butting in

Suggests an abrupt and often unwelcome interruption or involvement.

tampering

Implies altering something, often secretively or illegally.

poking around

Indicates nosy or inquisitive interference.

meddling around

Highlights aimless, unhelpful, or counterproductive interference.

obtruding

Stresses the imposition of oneself or one's opinions on others.

intervening

Focuses on getting involved to alter an outcome, often with good intentions but potentially negative consequences.

encroaching

Highlights the gradual intrusion upon someone's rights or territory.

infringing

Emphasizes the violation of someone's rights or boundaries.

FAQs

How is "meddling" typically used in a sentence?

"Meddling" is often used to describe unwanted interference. For example, "The government was accused of "meddling" in the election process".

What are some alternatives to using the word "meddling"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "meddling" include "interfering", "intruding", or "tampering".

What is the difference between "interfering" and "meddling"?

While both terms describe involvement in something, "meddling" carries a stronger connotation of being unwanted, unwelcome, and often counterproductive, whereas "interfering" can be more neutral.

In what situations might "meddling" be considered acceptable?

"Meddling" is rarely considered acceptable. The term almost always has a negative connotation, implying unwarranted and unwelcome interference. If the intent is positive or invited, terms other than "meddling" should be employed.