cradle 1 of 2

noun

ˈkrā-dᵊl How to pronounce cradle (audio)
Definition of cradlenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

cradle

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to clamp

Related Words
2
as in to mother

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of cradle
Noun
On July 4, in addition to watching the fireworks, millions of Americans were watching France take on Paraguay in the cradle of independence, Philadelphia. — Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026 The club retired the cradle of Louis XIV from its badge—a symbol of Saint-Germain as a suburban town 20 kilometers outside Paris, where the kings once lived. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 June 2026
Verb
On the wall, a neon sculpture of blue hands cradling a yellow heart framed by the spiky rays of a blue agave plant (Milagro’s icon) seemed to capture the spirit of the evening. — Sari Kamin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 June 2026 Julian loved this on the pricier Humanscale Freedom, which felt like someone was cradling his body. — Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cradle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cradle
  1. birthplace
  2. source
  3. clamp
  4. mother
  5. origin
  6. grip
  7. teach
  8. fountain
Noun
  • Despite a less tragic upbringing that saw her family spend time abroad, the vibrant but cynical Yasmina (Mounia Akl) has grown bitter toward her birthplace and toward life itself.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 July 2026
  • Once the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, the city of Manchester has, in recent decades, reconstituted itself as a fast-growing services hub also known for its football teams, music, and night life.
    — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
Definition of birthplace
Noun
  • Increasingly, however, these influencers are guides, companions, cultural interpreters, and trusted sources of information in an age of rock-bottom trust in public institutions.
    — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Two sources familiar with the matter told CNN over the weekend the uranium enrichment provision includes stipulations imposed by the US, but details of potential limitations are unclear.
    — Arpita Dasika, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Definition of source
Verb
  • Sharon Rocha's mitochondrial DNA clamped in the jaws of a pair of pliers found in [Peterson’s] boat, [and] the presence of concrete debris in the boat cover that matched both the homemade boat anchor and the concrete debris on his flatbed trailer.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • The headphones uses a 12-point through-bolt construction, with 12 screws clamping the housing assembly from the outer housing to the front plate.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of clamp
Verb
  • The new cub's arrival marks the first time Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium has had a lion birth since July 2020, when lioness Abana mothered three cubs.
    — Finch Walker, USA Today, 17 June 2026
  • Virginia Dulles was the opposite of Louanne Bixby—even a hundred children couldn’t exhaust her need to mother them.
    — Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Definition of mother
Noun
  • With origins in Spain, the style has become a go-to for editors, influencers, and celebrities alike — appreciated for its comfort and wearability in flat or high wedge form, on surfaces from concrete and grass to sand.
    — Sophie Dunne, Footwear News, 23 July 2026
  • The hypervirulent subpopulation had a fitness disadvantage in the urinary tract—the origin of the infection.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2026
Definition of origin
Verb
  • The cutest sandal styles don’t always have the best arch support or traction—not to mention, our feet have to grip to hold them in place—while orthopedic sandals aren’t typically known for their stylish aesthetic.
    — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 20 July 2026
  • And while Shakira drew big cheers, as did the appearance of Bieber, these paled in comparison to the cheers and oh’s and ah’s in the crowd throughout the gripping final.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 19 July 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • Members of the Purple City Genetics team teach passersby about the science and art of breeding marijuana, while providing advice to budding home growers and selling plant starts.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 19 July 2026
  • Instead, instructors teach police to approach the vehicle from behind and to avoid standing in the car’s path.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Definition of teach
Noun
  • Studies show that cooling towers and other warm, wet environments like hot tubs, spas, fountains and some plumbing systems are particularly vulnerable to Legionella bacteria.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Imagine one over Italy’s Mount Etna during a strombolian eruption or in Hawaii with Kilauea’s fountains in the foreground.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 17 July 2026
Definition of fountain

Browse Nearby Words

crack wise
cradle
cradled
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Cite this Entry

“Cradle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cradle. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cradle

Nglish: Translation of cradle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cradle

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