baby 1 of 3

Definition of babynext
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as in complainer
a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things don't be such a baby—the shot didn't hurt that much

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

baby

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verb

baby

3 of 3

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb baby contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of baby are humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, and spoil. While all these words mean "to show undue favor to a person's desires and feelings," baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude.

babying students by grading too easily

When might humor be a better fit than baby?

The synonyms humor and baby are sometimes interchangeable, but humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims.

humored him by letting him tell the story

When can indulge be used instead of baby?

The words indulge and baby can be used in similar contexts, but indulge implies excessive compliance and weakness in gratifying another's or one's own desires.

indulged myself with food at the slightest excuse

Where would mollycoddle be a reasonable alternative to baby?

The words mollycoddle and baby are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mollycoddle suggests an excessive degree of care and attention to another's health or welfare.

refused to mollycoddle her malingering son

In what contexts can pamper take the place of baby?

In some situations, the words pamper and baby are roughly equivalent. However, pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect.

pampered by the amenities of modern living

When would spoil be a good substitute for baby?

The meanings of spoil and baby largely overlap; however, spoil stresses the injurious effects on character by indulging or pampering.

foolish parents spoil their children

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 baby
Noun
The funding does not include paid family leave for care and bonding time with the baby for either parent. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026 An autopsy found that the baby's cause of death was freshwater drowning, and her manner of death is being considered an accident, the outlets reported, citing the coroner's office. Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
Verb
Jean’s mama reproached her for not having been more careful and babied Wole, ordering him to remove his T-shirt and retrieving an aloe lotion, telling him to stretch out on the couch and instructing Jean to spread it over the tender areas. David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025 So the big question now is, which type of football will baby Gianna grow up to play, if at all? Sari Hitchins, Parents, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for baby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baby
Noun
  • These could simply be great-grandparents put peacefully to rest in old age, a kind of grief far removed from that which children feel over parents who simply cannot care for them, or parents lost to murder or addiction, as some of the letters describe.
    Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
  • At least 168 people were killed, including 110 children.
    Michael Loria, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • Stepheny Price is a Writer at Fox News with a focus on West Coast and Midwest news, missing persons, national and international crime stories, homicide cases, and border security.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2026
  • In addition, le Polain said test results were also pending for one person from the ship with an inconclusive case.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • Their recipe for success, however, remained depth.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
  • Cities such as Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Fairfax, Virginia, have installed these systems with success.
    Michael Perkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
Noun
  • However, the Lakers are complainers to begin with and have always gotten a favorable whistle.
    David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
  • The pervasive popularity of the show and its creator will be the reason the complainers have no voice.
    Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Agnes is nursing a mocktail when Daisy notices her alone, which is convenient because Agnes has some menstrual pads to give her.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 13 May 2026
  • In fact, the Central Florida Zoo is playing a hero’s role in this heartbreaking rescue, following official guidelines from the national Association of Zoos and Aquariums in trying to nurse the sloths back to health.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • The collection, available May 7-10 at participating Krispy Kreme shops nationwide, mixes two new mini doughnuts with two fan favorites, according to the chain.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 8 May 2026
  • Jo and Naomi McPherson were playing out of mini amps.
    Katie Gavin, Time, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • Her two-year-old daughter and an infant son were found in the home, unharmed, according to police.
    Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 14 May 2026
  • Northwestern said the device was designed especially for patients who cannot verbalize or otherwise communicate discomfort from stress, such as infants and some elderly patients.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • As for Jalen Duren, the big man’s postseason woes continued.
    Darnell Mayberry, New York Times, 12 May 2026
  • Boston 25 News reported that Brown has a criminal history spanning nearly two decades, citing court records tied to a man with the same name and date of birth that include prior firearm and drug convictions.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Baby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baby. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

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