baby 1 of 3

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2
3
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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

2 of 3

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 scientists gathered the baby humpback whale sightings from a variety of sources, including migration surveys, stranding reports and citizen science observations from tourism boats. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2025 The news came one year after the couple welcomed their first baby, a son named Romeo, and just as the Minnesota Timberwolves were set to compete in the conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 20 May 2025
Verb
The sensitive child of the bunch doesn’t need to be babied. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 28 Nov. 2023 Plus, judging by Dustin May, Walker Buehler and many others, babying a pitcher doesn’t seem too effective. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2023 See All Example Sentences for baby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baby
Noun
  • While recording a commercial focused on hopes for one’s children, the script struck a personal chord.
    William Jones, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • Ventura is pregnant with her third child with her husband Alex Fine, who is present in the courtroom Thursday.
    Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • The fungal disease does not spread from person to person, according to the CDC.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Before Johnson and Eakins exchanged vows, Houser passed their wedding rings along the front row and asked that each person hold the rings and pray or give their blessings over them before passing them down to the next person in what's known as ring warming.
    Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Ole Miss had success against Root for the second time this season.
    Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2025
  • There is an even spread of success and failure, of ethnicities and inherited dysfunction, along with a predictable checklist of social problems endemic to deprivation.
    Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • There was tension to endure soon after half-time as Sparta Rotterdam equalized against PSV while Ajax nursed a one-goal lead at home against FC Twente to give it temporary command over the table.
    Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • Eight hours later, Bickel was still there, nursing a beer on the patio while watching federal agents down the street walk in and out of the suspect’s house.
    Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • The collection, which includes colorful drinkware (and adorable mini cold cup key chains) in five iconic FARM Rio prints, made its debut at stores nationwide on May 13.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • The actress wore a black tweed jacket and matching mini skirt, both featuring a ruffled trim, adding a pair of black pumps.
    Catherine Santino, People.com, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • But a 2017 study found that even infants can distinguish between words in different languages.
    Leslie Garisto Pfaff, Parents, 15 May 2025
  • Olivia was the most popular girls name for the second year in a row, assigned to 231 infants.
    Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • Still: There’s something a little nasty about using a man’s long-ago loyalty oath as an excuse to simply kill him for safety, especially when the whole operation is burned anyway, yes?
    Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 14 May 2025
  • Hikers in New York state have found the remains of a Canadian man who was missing for five months in the Adirondack Mountains, officials say.
    Saleen Martin, USA Today, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Hosmer recalls a sense of accomplishment felt by a city and team alike.
    Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 17 May 2025
  • A lot has happened in the quarter century since, and Aguilera is opening up about it all: fame, the ruthless ’00s tabloids, bucking convention, saying no, and—her proudest accomplishment—motherhood.
    Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 16 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Baby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baby. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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