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intervention

/ɪntəˈvɛnʃən/

In political or economic contexts, the word is quite formal and refers to official actions taken by governments or international organizations. When used in a family or health context (like addiction), it often refers to a specific 'staged' event where people gather together to confront someone. In this sense, you will frequently see the verb "stage" used with it (e.g., "to stage an intervention"). Depending on the context, the word can be seen as either positive (helping a situation) or negative (interfering where one is not wanted).

💬Casual Conversation

🎬A dusty Martian outpost during a scheduled communication window.
Commander Tom

I'm seriously losing it. I just spent an hour staring at a picture of rain.

Commander Tom
Xylar
Xylar

Your emotional instability is suboptimal. I am scheduling a mandatory intervention for 0900.

💡
Xylar uses 'intervention' in the sense of a coordinated effort to address a mental health or behavioral issue, applied here with cold, bureaucratic detachment. Tom's phrase 'losing it' is a common idiom meaning to become mentally unstable or lose emotional control.

Meanings

noun

The act of interfering in a dispute or situation to modify the outcome or prevent a negative result.

"The government's intervention in the economy helped stabilize the currency."

noun

A coordinated effort by family and friends to persuade someone to seek treatment for an addiction or mental health issue.

"His parents staged an intervention to encourage him to enter rehab."

noun

The action of a state intervening in the affairs of another state, typically through military force.

"The UN security council debated the legality of the foreign military intervention."

Related Words

Last Updated: May 22, 2026Report an Error