coddle

verb

cod·​dle ˈkä-dᵊl 

coddled; coddling ˈkäd-liŋ 

ˈkä-dᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to cook (something, such as eggs) in liquid slowly and gently just below the boiling point

coddled the eggs for the Caesar salad

2

: to treat with extreme or excessive care or kindness : pamper

accused the court of coddling criminals

colleges that coddle their athletes

coddler

ˈkäd-lər 

ˈkä-dᵊl-ər

noun

Synonyms

• boil
• parboil
• poach
• simmer
• stew

Examples of coddle in a Sentence

The judges were accused of coddling criminals.

a hearty, traditional breakfast that included coddled eggs

Recent Examples on the Web

Wojcicki once speculated that Google’s roots in a residential area led to the company's famous practice of coddling employees, where the workplace offered the comforts of home. —Steven Levy, WIRED, 10 Aug. 2024

Even better is that once you’re done trying to break the sound barrier, you will be whisked along in near-silence, coddled in the finest Italian leather, and enjoying your Sonus Faber stereo system. —Kyle Hyatt, Robb Report, 29 July 2024

Botha credits Leone and Jim Goetz, another senior partner, for supporting him without coddling him. —Michal Lev-Ram, Fortune, 25 July 2024

Until the left takes responsibility for that and stops coddling the mob, there will only be more and more political violence — until the next horrific event. —Shaun McCutcheon, The Mercury News, 20 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

perhaps altered from caudle "to administer a caudle to," verbal derivative of caudle

Note: The meaning "to pamper," earlier "to treat as if in need of nursing," attested from the second half of the 18th century, cannot be related with certainty to the cooking sense and may be of distinct origin.

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

coddle

verb

cod·​dle ˈkäd-ᵊl 

coddled; coddling ˈkäd-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to cook slowly in water below the boiling point

coddle eggs

2

: to treat with excessive care or kindness