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

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
Those people include a teenager with severe brain inflammation and a 40-year-old woman with a history of asthma, as well as two babies. — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026 The father of two, who co-parents a baby girl with famous ex Megan Fox, just wrapped a world tour. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
The brothers were each two years apart in age, but younger siblings were never babied; Nick recalled being on the receiving end of numerous pummelings by his older brothers. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026 Each new piece was crafted to be simple, functional, and beautiful, giving parents peace of mind and babies a nurturing space to grow. — Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for baby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baby
Noun
  • Unusually, adult children can (in rare cases) be liable to pay for parents’ care if the parents run out of money.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Morio, already a tender and delicate soul, becomes increasingly protective of the woman carrying his child.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Being able to have the in-person connectivity with talking to your coworkers, being able to collaborate, is great and then also the larger programming of the company as a whole.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • One person was killed in a strike on Riyadh airport, a Saudia Airlines plane was reportedly in flames, and hundreds of flights have been canceled.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In a defining game that many thought would expose problems masked by UCLA’s early-season success, the Bruins — though imperfect — vociferously announced their arrival to the college football world as legitimate playoff contenders.
    — Elias Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Many executives, such as the CEOs of Starbucks and Chipotle for example, tout early-morning work routines as a key to their success.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • My ‘Deborah Vance Show senior writer’ persona was kind of a rude complainer with an incipient alcohol problem.
    — Merrill Markoe, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Are they deluded into thinking that the complainers are just a squeaky wheel minority and the majority of fans are happy with it?
    — Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 13 July 2026
Verb
  • Dean Fryer, the restaurant’s namesake, nursed a pint outside while chatting with creative director Nicholas Blechman.
    — Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Jonathan Allen, a 10-year veteran who has contributed 12 tackles and two sacks in the season’s first four games, is nursing a knee injury that has kept him from participating in Cincinnati’s past two practices.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • There's also hot water and a microwave in the lobby, mini fridges in each room, and cocktails at The Crocodile downstairs.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The bones, essence, and layering of that apartment form a mini masterclass in design.
    — Kelly Allen, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The black-and-white illustration showed a mother kneeling on the frothing waves’ surface, staring into the face of her naked infant as the Virgin Mary towered above them both, attended by angels circling her head.
    — Ellen O’Connell Whittet, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Hartung, who leads the clinic’s home care program, knows a family who skipped going to church for more than month to avoid possible measles exposures to their vulnerable infant.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Federal prosecutors have accused a Cuban man living as a lawful permanent resident in Cass County of voting illegally.
    — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The increase in online sports betting has worsened mental health problems in younger men, leading to more hospital visits as a result.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 7 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Baby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baby. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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