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

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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

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

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
In the promo trailer for Episode 2, slated for April 19, Cassie resumes her OnlyFans endeavors wearing a revealing baby costume, prompting Kelly's criticism. Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026 When Dayao is seriously injured at a construction site, Tiantian must make major decisions about what’s best for them and their unborn baby. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 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
  • While raising young children, Currie finally obtained her undergraduate degree in 1968 before working on the campaign of activist and lawyer Michael Shakman to be elected delegate to the 1969-70 constitutional convention.
    Hannah Meisel, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
  • Harper’s Bazaar didn’t report a due date for her third child.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Jogging might feel easy to one person and exhausting to another.
    Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Police said that at least one of the three shootings was a random attack on a homeless person sleeping in front of a Kroger store at Cherokee Plaza along Peachtree Road in Brookhaven.
    Kat Greene, AJC.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Though her political aspirations didn’t ultimately pan out, Ortega went on to find success in the entertainment industry by landing roles as early as 12, appearing on Jane the Virgin and Stuck in the Middle.
    Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Continenza said success to him will mean continuing to improve finances and ensuring Kodak has a solid succession plan in place to continue its growth.
    Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • An energy vampire has bad body language, the complaining look on their face, the vocal complainer.
    Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • On Wednesday, SeaWorld personnel released five birds and two sea lions that had been nursed back to health back into the ocean.
    Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Rookie goalie Nikke Kokko, making just his second NHL start with Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer nursing lower-body injuries and Matt Murray away from the team to deal with family matters, stopped 25 shots.
    Daily News, Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • How about the little things, like the mini bar, or shower goodies?
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Daniel Bernhardt is Deathstalker, a legendary swordsman stuck with a cursed amulet who befriends swamp monsters and teams with a mini wizard (voiced by Patton Oswalt) to stop a dark magic from ruling the land.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Some parents are having reservations about being out and about with their infants during the measles outbreak.
    Kayla Moeller, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • After delivery, if a baby needs to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), The Women’s Hospital is fully equipped to care for premature and medically fragile infants in our 24/7 dedicated, on-site level III Irma Feldcamp NICU.
    MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Five of the eight people arrested in connection with last year's Esparto explosion, which killed seven men, were arraigned in Yolo County court on Monday.
    Richard Ramos, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • One man does it and the other becomes obsessed with figuring out how; then the dynamic reverses itself.
    Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Baby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baby. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

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