baby 1 of 3

Definition of babynext
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as in complainer
a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things don't be such a baby—the shot didn't hurt that much

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

baby

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verb

baby

3 of 3

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb baby contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of baby are humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, and spoil. While all these words mean "to show undue favor to a person's desires and feelings," baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude.

babying students by grading too easily

When might humor be a better fit than baby?

The synonyms humor and baby are sometimes interchangeable, but humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims.

humored him by letting him tell the story

When can indulge be used instead of baby?

The words indulge and baby can be used in similar contexts, but indulge implies excessive compliance and weakness in gratifying another's or one's own desires.

indulged myself with food at the slightest excuse

Where would mollycoddle be a reasonable alternative to baby?

The words mollycoddle and baby are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mollycoddle suggests an excessive degree of care and attention to another's health or welfare.

refused to mollycoddle her malingering son

In what contexts can pamper take the place of baby?

In some situations, the words pamper and baby are roughly equivalent. However, pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect.

pampered by the amenities of modern living

When would spoil be a good substitute for baby?

The meanings of spoil and baby largely overlap; however, spoil stresses the injurious effects on character by indulging or pampering.

foolish parents spoil their children

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of baby
Noun
For guests traveling with infants, complimentary baby essentials, including bottle warmers, infant bathtubs, and nightlights, will be ready at check-in. Jacqueline Dole, Southern Living, 18 June 2026 Her family and the baby's father's family collaborated to ensure childcare. Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Verb
Outside the woods the whole world babied her. Hazlitt, 8 Oct. 2025 Jean’s mama reproached her for not having been more careful and babied Wole, ordering him to remove his T-shirt and retrieving an aloe lotion, telling him to stretch out on the couch and instructing Jean to spread it over the tender areas. David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for baby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baby
Noun
  • All proceeds to the sell-out show, which was simulcast on ESPN, benefited the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the MSG non-profit supporting children in need.
    Marlow Stern, Variety, 20 June 2026
  • Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was away from the team Friday for the birth of his second child with his wife, Mamiko.
    Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
Noun
  • The other infected person had visited and camped at a county park and state beach in San Mateo and Marin counties.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
  • Migis Lodge in South Casco, Maine, is a family-friendly wellness retreat with rates starting at $388 per person per night.
    Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • And the game overall is the latest in a mini stretch of recent success.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 June 2026
  • The success has not changed another of Kelly’s trademarks, which is to show as little emotion on the mound as possible, which means pretty much none.
    Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2026
Noun
  • Instead of pushing through pain and not speaking up for fear they'll be labeled weak or a complainer, this generation is more inclined to listen to their bodies, advocate for themselves, and address the issue through the proper resources.
    Sarah Scott, Parents, 10 June 2026
  • However, the Lakers are complainers to begin with and have always gotten a favorable whistle.
    David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • An orphaned owl at a rescue center in New York has adopted the role of a foster parent, nursing two orphaned baby owlets and giving them parental love.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 19 June 2026
  • Set on a Japanese island during wartime, the story follows two girls from an all-girls school who are ordered to nurse the wounded in a military hospital concealed in a cave as violence escalates around them.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • The Pines at Woodloch Hawley, Pennsylvania With activities for all ages—indoor and outdoor pools, bumper boats, mini golf, water skiing, archery, and seasonal snow tubing—there’s no shortage of fun at The Pines at Woodloch.
    Chelsea Adams, USA Today, 20 June 2026
  • The first photos showed her in a black lace bodysuit that revealed her bra and micro mini shorts below.
    Meg Walters, InStyle, 20 June 2026
Noun
  • The infant’s family was all vaccinated.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • Danny and Nia are traveling with their baby and a nanny, and Kristen and Luke, a Lincoln Logs set that can only make a shooting range, are also traveling with an infant, her sister, and brother-in-law, and so much emotional baggage that Jet Blue charged them $35 million in luggage fees.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • The murder case is still pending against Christopher Kegan Williams, a Sacramento County man who is accused of providing fentanyl that led to the September 2020 death of 20-year-old Spencer Newsom in Roseville.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026
  • This game's star man is no doubt Mohammed Al-Owais, who produced the best goalkeeping performance of this World Cup thus far.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 16 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Baby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baby. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.

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