meddling
/'medliɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Intrusively interfering: Describes someone who involves themselves in other people's affairs in an unwelcome or officious way.
- Given to meddling: Characterized by a tendency to interfere, especially in matters that are not one's concern.
Noun:
- The act of interfering: The action of involving oneself in a matter without right or invitation.
- Improper alteration: The act of changing something secretly or improperly.
Usage and Examples
As an Adjective:
- She resented her meddling neighbor, who always commented on her parenting.
- The report criticized the meddling bureaucracy for slowing down the process.
As a Noun:
- Constant meddling in the project by upper management caused confusion.
- The document's integrity was compromised by the meddling of an unauthorized party.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- "Meddling" vs. "Interfering": While often synonymous, "meddling" can carry a stronger connotation of prying or being bothersome in petty matters, whereas "interfering" might be used in more serious contexts of obstruction.
- Often used pejoratively: The term is typically used in a negative sense to criticize unwanted involvement.
Variants and Related Words
- Meddle (verb): To interfere in something that is not one's concern.
- He warned them not to meddle in local politics.
- Meddler (noun): A person who meddles.
- The committee was full of meddlers.
- Meddlesome (adjective): Having the character of a meddler; interfering. (This is a direct synonym for the adjective form of "meddling").
- She has a meddlesome nature.
Synonyms
- Interfering (adj): Intruding into matters without invitation.
- Intrusive (adj): Causing disruption by unwelcome involvement.
- Officious (adj): Asserting authority or offering help in an annoyingly domineering way.
- Prying (adj): Inquisitive in an intrusive way.
Antonyms
- Uninvolved (adj): Not participating or connected.
- Discreet (adj): Careful and prudent in one's speech or actions, especially to avoid causing offense.
- Hands-off (adj): Involving no direct intervention.
Idioms and Phrases
- To accuse someone of meddling: A common phrase for charging someone with unwanted interference.
- The ambassador was accused of meddling in the country's internal affairs.
- Meddling with fate / nature: Often used to describe dangerous or hubristic interference with fundamental forces.
- Some believe genetic engineering is a form of meddling with nature.
Adjective
- intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
- an interfering old woman
- bustling about self-importantly making an officious nuisance of himself
- busy about other people's business
Noun
- the act of altering something secretly or improperly