swaddle

verb

swad·​dle ˈswä-dᵊl 

swaddled; swaddling

ˈswäd-liŋ,

ˈswä-dᵊl-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to wrap (an infant) with swaddling clothes

b

: envelop, swathe

legs swaddled in bandages

2

: restrain, restrict

marriage … swaddled him in a domesticity he came to loathe

—Nina Auerbach

Examples of swaddle in a Sentence

He swaddled the baby in a blanket.

Recent Examples on the Web

There was an infant right there—a two-month-old boy, swaddled in period-correct cloth against a reenactor’s chest. —Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025

The couple shared another joint Instagram post to announce their baby's arrival in March 2025, complete with a photo of their baby boy asleep while swaddled in a blue blanket. —Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025

Crest and Old Spice. Pampers’ ads won’t just swaddle TV. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025

Furnishings are intentionally sturdy and swaddled in luxe but hardy fabrics to withstand spills and sandy paws. —Mark David, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English swadelen, swathelen, probably alteration of swedelen, swethelen, from swethel swaddling band, from Old English; akin to Old English swathian to swathe

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for swaddle

• caudal
• caudle
• dawdle
• model
• twaddle
• waddle
• remodel

Kids Definition

swaddle

verb

swad·​dle ˈswäd-ᵊl 

swaddled; swaddling ˈswäd-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

: to wrap an infant with swaddling clothes