yenta

noun

yen·​ta ˈyen-tə How to pronounce yenta (audio)
Synonyms of yentanext
: one that meddles

Examples of yenta in a Sentence

the couple's loud quarrel had the building's yentas yapping for a week
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Colleagues considered her a mentor, a yenta, a founding mother — always tough, and always true to herself. David Folkenflik, NPR, 16 Oct. 2025 Abzug is the pushy yenta of the Senate, a pragmatist willing to make concessions to secure male allies. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2020 This Tinder-esque development allows users to create separate profiles to pursue romantic connections, with Facebook acting as an algorithmic yenta. Steven Levy, WIRED, 1 May 2018

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish yente, from the name Yente

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of yenta was in 1923

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Yenta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yenta. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster