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Preposition after verb

Meddle with vs meddle in

Meddle in usually means interfering in affairs or situations. Meddle with often means handling or tampering with objects or systems.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows meddle?

Use meddle in for interfering in other people's affairs, discussions, or activities. Use meddle with for touching, changing, or interfering with objects, equipment, or arrangements.

He should not meddle in other people's relationships.
Someone meddled with the computer settings.
The official was accused of meddling in local politics.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
meddle in + affairs/activity

Interfere in situations or decisions

Meddle in refers to unwanted involvement in matters that are not yours.

She refused to meddle in family disputes.
Foreign powers should not meddle in elections.
2
meddle with + object/system

Tamper with physical things

Meddle with often means touching or changing something improperly.

Do not meddle with the controls.
Someone meddled with my files.
3
meddle with + arrangement

Interfere with functioning

Meddle with can also describe harmful interference with plans or systems.

The edits meddled with the original design.
He warned them not to meddle with the agreement.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
meddle in
They accused her of meddling in office politics.
interfere in affairs or activities
meddle with
Someone meddled with the alarm system.
tamper with or interfere with an object or arrangement
interfere in
The manager refused to interfere in the argument.
become involved in a situation
interfere with
Noise interfered with my concentration.
affect negatively or obstruct

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using meddle in for physical objects

Use meddle with for equipment, controls, or objects.

✕ Someone meddled in the engine. ✓ Someone meddled with the engine.

Using meddle with for social affairs

Use meddle in for politics, relationships, or decisions.

✕ He likes to meddle with other people's business. ✓ He likes to meddle in other people's business.

Using meddle positively

Meddle usually has a negative meaning of unwanted interference.

✓ She was warned not to meddle in private matters.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The child was told not to meddle ___ the wires.
2. The country denied meddling ___ foreign elections.
3. Someone meddled ___ my desk while I was away.

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Frequently asked questions

Is meddle always negative?

Usually yes. Meddle suggests unwanted or inappropriate interference.

What is the difference between meddle in and meddle with?

Meddle in refers to affairs or activities. Meddle with refers to objects, systems, or arrangements.

Can meddle be used without a preposition?

It is uncommon. Meddle is normally followed by in or with.

magnify, by, magnify, in "maintain by" or "maintain in"? make by, in, for, of or to? "manage by" or "manage to"? manifest in, by, as, into or on? manipulate by, in, for, with or into? mar by, with, at, for or as? march in, to, on, into or through? "mark by" or "mark with"? "market in" or "market to"? "marry to" or "marry in"? masquerade as, under, at or Like?

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