as in to spoil
to treat with great or excessive care
refused to mollycoddle her malingering son and sent him off to school
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Recent Examples of mollycoddle
You’re not mollycoddled during the week and are expected to act as any professional crew member would.
—
Helen Iatrou, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2023
So football generally, and pro football specifically, helped reassure the country that American men were not mollycoddled softies.
—James Surowiecki, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2019
Koenig may have supported Bernie Sanders in 2016, but Sanders’s mollycoddling platform never approaches the real-life perplexities that Koenig — a pop poet — sings about.
—Armond White, National Review, 10 Dec. 2019
Her poise is the result of a loving yet punctilious upbringing by parents determined that their fame and its accompanying perks were not going to mollycoddle their two children.
—Michael Callahan, Town & Country, 1 Aug. 2018
Both sides are mollycoddling their own predicaments with this talk.
—Chad Pergram, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2018
This mollycoddled outdated practices, like harvesting by hand.
—The Economist, 14 Dec. 2017
Helen Iatrou, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2023
So football generally, and pro football specifically, helped reassure the country that American men were not mollycoddled softies.
—James Surowiecki, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2019
Koenig may have supported Bernie Sanders in 2016, but Sanders’s mollycoddling platform never approaches the real-life perplexities that Koenig — a pop poet — sings about.
—Armond White, National Review, 10 Dec. 2019
Her poise is the result of a loving yet punctilious upbringing by parents determined that their fame and its accompanying perks were not going to mollycoddle their two children.
—Michael Callahan, Town & Country, 1 Aug. 2018
Both sides are mollycoddling their own predicaments with this talk.
—Chad Pergram, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2018
This mollycoddled outdated practices, like harvesting by hand.
—The Economist, 14 Dec. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mollycoddle
Verb
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Despite holding the lead for much of the game, Federico Chiesa’s 87th-minute equaliser threatened to spoil what was a near-complete performance.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
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Uber Eats’ new Fresh Guarantee means that if your fresh item arrives spoiled, damaged, stale, or past its best-by date, the company will ensure a full review and refund for eligible items.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Safety Nick Emmanwori, who's dealing with an ankle injury, is listed as doubtful, and running back Zach Charbonnet, who's nursing a foot injury, is listed as questionable.—
Anne Erickson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
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Brock Bowers, nursing an injured knee but active Sunday, caught just four passes for 38 yards.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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To tell the jokes that make others groan, but to do it wholeheartedly and keep the faith that there are people out there — their people — who will not only indulge, but truly adore, their senses of humor.—
Audrey Goldberg Ruoff,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
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And what better excuse to get dressed up than to indulge and imbibe in a new dining experience?—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Throughout the film, he’s surrounded by artists and political pundits who consistently coddle his every whim (Chris Rock, Pharrell Williams, Drake and David Letterman, to name a few).—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
18 Sep. 2025
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Salicylic acid penetrates deep into the pores to dissolve away acne-causing debris, while coddling the skin barrier with a cocktail of ceramides and niacinamide.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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So the big question now is, which type of football will baby Gianna grow up to play, if at all?—
Sari Hitchins,
Parents,
4 Sep. 2025
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Conceivably one or two of them should have already been at Citi Field, but until finally summoning McLean to pitch Saturday, Stearns has been babying them in the minors.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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However, two days later, Long addressed Carey's reaction on The Shade Room, revealing Carey asked her to sing during the tribute and was pleased by her set.—
Ilana Kaplan,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
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Grab this Monolike sticky memo pad for the teacher who appreciates aesthetically pleasing desktop goodies.—
Maria Conti,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Infused with the brand’s signature scent—a warm, sophisticated blend of amber, musk, and florals—this shampoo not only cleanses but also pampers the senses.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
24 Sep. 2025
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They will also be pampered in a variety of opulent living areas including movie theater, gym.—
Bill Springer,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mollycoddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mollycoddle. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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