security blanket

noun

|Updated on: 25 Jul 2018

Definition of security blanket

1 : a blanket carried by a child as a protection against anxiety

2 : a usually familiar object whose presence dispels anxiety

See security blanket defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of security blanket from the Web

Not a ton of surprises, just the warm and fuzzy security blanket of hearing songs that everyone in the audience has heard countless times and cherished for most of their lives.

— stereo williams, Billboard, "How I Became a Paul McCartney Fan: Discovering the Depths of the Former Beatle's Underappreciated Solo Catalog," 18 June 2018
The broadcaster’s soothing voice was like a security blanket for Cranston, whose father, Joe, a struggling actor and amateur boxer, walked out on the family when Cranston was 11.

— mike digiovanna, latimes.com, "Bryan Cranston will narrate MLB Network documentary on 1988 World Series champion Dodgers," 30 June 2018
Have cellphones become the modern-day, adult security blanket?

— darcel rockett, chicagotribune.com, "Study sheds light on why we walk holding cellphones — that aren't in use," 8 June 2018
Interest-rate declines hurt their security blankets.

— leslie scism, WSJ, "A Generation of Americans Is Entering Old Age the Least Prepared in Decades," 22 June 2018
Between Balls in Play 3:04 3:45 For years baseball could treat pace of action as a back burner issue because of a cozy security blanket: attendance was rock steady.

— tom verducci, SI.com, "There Are Too Many Strikeouts in Baseball: Here's How to Fix the Problem," 14 June 2018
The sides first spoke through intelligence channels, with US analysts working to determine Kim's true willingness to abandon a nuclear program started by his grandfather and viewed by Pyongyang as a security blanket from outside aggressors.

— kevin liptak, CNN, "Trump, Kim set to meet for historic summit," 11 June 2018
This whole thing, to me, speaks much more about the president wanting a security blanket than wanting a legal voice.

— NBC News, "Meet the Press- April 22,2018," 22 Apr. 2018
Before he was fired as coach of the Bucks, Jason Kidd used to call Middleton the team's security blanket, which is a perfect description for what Middleton brought to the table.

— matt velazquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "2017-'18 Milwaukee Bucks player grades," 7 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'security blanket.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.