coddle

verb

cod·​dle ˈkä-dᵊl How to pronounce coddle (audio)
coddled; coddling ˈkä-dᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce coddle (audio)
ˈkäd-liŋ
Synonyms of coddlenext

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
ˈkä-dᵊl-ər How to pronounce coddle (audio)
ˈkäd-lər
noun

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
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.
Viewed harshly, Hacks is less a great Hollywood comedy than a deeply coddling fantasy, but there’s also a softer, more interesting way to read it. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 May 2026 Still, James Bond media can't coddle our fears. Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026 School policymakers continue to coddle parents who fall short in their most basic responsibilities, such as potty-training their children. Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2026 No matter how much his disability impacted his daily routine, Nic notes that his parents never coddled him. Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for coddle

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of coddle was in 1651

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coddle. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

coddle

verb
cod·​dle ˈkäd-ᵊl How to pronounce coddle (audio)
coddled; coddling ˈkäd-liŋ How to pronounce coddle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to cook slowly in water below the boiling point
coddle eggs
2
: to treat with excessive care or kindness

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