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

O'Brien Peck, 34, posted two photos of the pair's youngest son swaddled in his baby blanket with his newborn baby cap. —Kayla Grant, People.com, 3 July 2025

Here the memory of C. F. Seabrook, his multicultural workforce, and his vegetable factory is preserved, swaddled in gauzy nostalgia. —John Seabrook june 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025

The upload showed their bundle of joy swaddled in the delivery room's bassinet, wearing a pink bow, sharing her name in the caption with a yellow heart emoji. —Kayla Grant, People.com, 2 May 2025

The combined visual effect is like being swaddled in a cashmere blanket. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 28 May 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