1
as in birthplace
a place of origin
Philadelphia is known as "the cradle of liberty" because it was there that the Declaration of Independence was signed
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2
as in source
a point or place at which something is invented or provided
the 1848 meeting at Seneca Falls, New York, is often regarded as the cradle of the women's suffrage movement
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1
2
as in to mother
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cradle
Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 27 July 2025
At one point, Sati cradled her face in her hands, overjoyed at what her grandson had created, before leaning back in for another look at her husband.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 19 July 2025
Juan Carlos Navarro, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
Since beginning science operations in July 2022, JWST has transformed our understanding of the universe, from spotting the earliest galaxies yet to probing exoplanets and cradles of newborn stars.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cradle
Noun
In the first image, the newborn’s tiny foot is gently cradled by what appears to be both Pons and Guaynaa.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 27 July 2025
At one point, Sati cradled her face in her hands, overjoyed at what her grandson had created, before leaning back in for another look at her husband.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 19 July 2025
Verb
Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Corbis via Getty Images
Tropical rainforests are the cradle of life on Earth—and the world's lungs.
—Juan Carlos Navarro, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
Since beginning science operations in July 2022, JWST has transformed our understanding of the universe, from spotting the earliest galaxies yet to probing exoplanets and cradles of newborn stars.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cradle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cradle
Noun
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The show was held in his and the band’s birthplace, Birmingham, England.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
5 Aug. 2025
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Stockholm is also the birthplace of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite who founded the Nobel Foundation and its prestigious prizes.—
Jess Fleming,
Twin Cities,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
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With the sharp decline in sea stars, the sea urchins that usually serve as a food source rapidly expanded in population.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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All of my sources said that their stations received an uptick in the number of donations, either leading up to the C.P.B. funding cuts, or immediately after.—
Oliver Whang,
New Yorker,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The recumbent chair and whining drill, the blinding lights and masked faces overhead, the needle, the spit basin, and the X-ray film clamped between your teeth—every detail seems designed to inflame our fears.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
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Others are designed to mount to the side of your hamster’s cage, clamping the bars.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
23 July 2025
Verb
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She was born on July 10, 2024, to mother Jona, 26 and father Tony, 25, with two other siblings Pork Stew and Sweet Pork at the zoo in Chonburi, NorthJersey.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, reported.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
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Moo Deng was born on July 10, 2024, to mother Jona and father Tony at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Noun
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According to Variety, the project covering O’Connor’s origin story is being helmed by Irish production company ie: entertainment, which executive produced and worked with the singer on the 2022 O’Connor documentary Nothing Compares; O’Connor died in July 2023 at age 56 of natural causes.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
14 Aug. 2025
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But there's one part of Silverstone's origin that the actress isn't sentimental about.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The narrative explores the devastating impact of family secrets and fractured loyalties, while building toward a gripping conclusion that ties together the personal and political threads—yet leaves room for lingering questions.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
13 Aug. 2025
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The result is a gripping vérité portrait of citizens under siege by a tyrannical leader stripping away their freedoms.—
Tim Grierson,
Rolling Stone,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Jackman donated a bear fountain to Glenview that has become a beloved symbol of the village.—
Myrna Petlicki,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025
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Guests are welcomed with a chocolate fountain in the reception area.—
Ben Davidson Correspondent,
Oc Register,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The motor can be unlocked to bump the top speed to 24 mph (38.6 km/h) when venturing into the wild, with the rider holding onto the high-rise bars while the passenger clings to the rider.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Aug. 2025
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At the end of the segment, a soaking-wet Holland stood up in the bath as his white T-shirt clung to his toned body, displaying his muscular body beneath the now see-through fabric.—
Skyler Caruso,
People.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cradle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cradle. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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