What does intermeddle mean?
Intermeddle means to interfere in other people's affairs or to intrude on matters that are not one's own. It usually carries a negative or disapproving connotation, suggesting that someone is acting without a proper reason or beyond their role. The word is relatively uncommon today and sounds formal, particularly in British English, where it is more readily encountered than in American English. In contemporary use, it often appears in expressions such as “intermeddle in” or “intermeddle with,” usually in reports about governments, organizations, relatives, or other parties crossing boundaries they should respect. Although “meddle” remains the more natural everyday alternative, “intermeddle” can be useful when a writer wants to emphasize deliberate or unwarranted interference while maintaining a measured, formal tone. The word is formed from the prefix “inter-” and “meddle,” reflecting its basic meaning of meddling in something from the outside.
verbTo interfere in or interfere with other people's affairs, especially in a way that is unwarranted or annoying.
- To interfere in or interfere with other people's affairs, especially in an unwanted or inappropriate way.
"I have no intention of intermeddling in the dispute between them."
"She accused him of intermeddling in the family's finances."
"The government warned its officials not to intermeddle in local affairs."
Intermeddle is essentially the phrase “meddle in” compressed into a single, unusually formal verb.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of intermeddle
“Intermeddle” was formed in English by combining the prefix “inter-,” meaning between or among, with “meddle.” The word developed in the early modern period as a more formal and emphatic way of expressing the idea of interfering in other people's concerns. Its modern form reflects the established English verb “meddle,” which has cognates and related forms in several European languages. Today, the compound is less common than the simpler verb it contains.
How intermeddle is actually used
This verb is formal and relatively uncommon in modern English. It is especially associated with British usage and conveys a more formal or censorious sense of unwanted interference than the everyday word “meddle.”
Easily confused with intermeddle
Meddle is the more common word for interfering in affairs or handling something carelessly, whereas intermeddle is a rarer and more formal term primarily meaning to interfere.