Master confusing words with ease
Interfere vs. Intervene
Interfere
/ˌɪntəˈfɪə/Examples:
He started, but Aileen interfered.At least it was interfering with Neely's evenings, she thought grimly.This interferes to some extent with the flow of logical thought.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Intervene
/ˌɪntəˈviːn/Examples:
History intervened to crowd the President's calendar.I have got over my intervening doubts.It seems that J. J. Thomson intervened.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Interfere often has a negative connotation, implying an unwelcome or meddling action.
- Intervene suggests stepping in to help resolve or mediate a situation, usually with positive intent.
- Remember interfere by associating it with actions that disrupt or hinder.
- Think of intervene as stepping in between conflict or problems to aid or resolve it.
- Both words involve an action in the middle – interfere disrupts, while intervene resolves.
© 2025 Lithium Lab Pte Ltd