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busy-bodied

busy-bodied

8.4
A person who tries to find out or change other people's private lives
  • adjective
  • /ˈbɪziˌbɑːdɪd/
  • Offensive
translation icon : metiche
  • She found her new neighbor insufferably busy-bodied, always prying into private matters.

Examples

  • My neighbor is so busy-bodied that she often gives unsolicited advice.

  • No one appreciated the busy-bodied approach she took to organizing other people's tasks.

  • His busy-bodied questions made everyone at the party uncomfortable.

  • Stop being so busy-bodied and let me handle my own problems!

  • Her busy-bodied tendencies made her the subject of gossip among the other residents.

  • His busy-bodied nature led him to interfere in every decision made at work.

  • Everyone found her busy-bodied behavior annoying, especially when she tried to meddle in personal affairs.

Synonyms

nosy
vsbusy-bodied
  • Offensive
60 3.4

Too interested in other people's private life in an annoying way

is similar but adds officious interference not only curiosity
busy
vsbusy-bodied
  • Offensive
9 7.5

Showing too much interest in other people's affairs

is the same meddlesome behaviour but more strongly intrusive
nosey
vsbusy-bodied
  • UK
8 5.5

Showing too much interest in other people's private lives

focuses more on unwanted meddling rather than mere curiosity
meddlesome
vsbusy-bodied
8 7.2

Tending to get involved in other people's business and annoy them

is similarly intrusive but stresses officiousness and meddling intent
officious
vsbusy-bodied
5 8.6

Too ready to give help or advice when people do not want it

is intrusive too but more about interference than eager help
snoopy
vsbusy-bodied
1 8.4

A person who is too interested in other people's private lives

is the same intrusive interest but can include active meddling
oversolicitous
vsbusy-bodied
1 9.9

Being too careful or worried about someone in a way that feels annoying

is intrusive too but is more caring than purely meddling
meddling
vsbusy-bodied
5.0

Being involved in other people's matters when not wanted

is the intrusive pattern but more focused on ongoing interference
interfering
vsbusy-bodied
5.7

A person who tries to control other people's lives

is focused on unwanted influence while being similarly intrusive

Antonyms

5 4.5

Not taking part in an activity or situation

3.7

Not willing to show feelings or talk much

How Meddlesome

officious
5 8.6
intrusive
52 6.1
busy-bodied
  • Offensive
8.4
nosy
  • Offensive
60 3.4
inquisitive
25 4.4
discreet
115 5.8

Surface Forms

busy-bodied positive

Morphology

busy-bodied = busybody (transparent) = busybody + ed

Formed by adding the adjectival suffix '-ed' to the noun 'busybody', yielding an adjective meaning 'having the characteristics of a busybody', which is directly inferable.

Etymology

Busy-bodied comes from the older noun busybody, made of busy ('active' or 'always doing things') and body ('person'). So a busy-bodied person is like someone whose 'body' is always 'busy' in other people's business, meaning they 'meddle' or 'interfere' and often annoy others.