cocoon 1 of 2

noun

kə-ˈkün How to pronounce cocoon (audio)
Definition of cocoonnext
1
as in sheath
something that encloses another thing especially to protect it he retired to the cocoon of his study whenever he'd had enough of the company

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in buffer
something that serves as a protective barrier as the TV had been packed in a cocoon of Styrofoam, it arrived in one piece

Synonyms & Similar Words

cocoon

2 of 2

verb

as in to wrap
to surround or cover closely cocooned in puffy down parkas, we braved the bitter cold as best we could

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 cocoon
Noun
Going back to the books, the cocoon periods after each tragedy were periods of vulnerability, figuring things out and trying to survive, and that’s incredibly satisfying to play. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 July 2026 Wolfe is known for her quirky vacation rentals, which include the Big Idaho Potato near Boise; a Hobbit home in Chelan, Washington; a cocoon in Oregon; a tropical treehouse in Hawaii; and several Idaho fire lookouts. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 24 June 2026
Verb
The most joyful moments unfold in the four bedrooms, where cocooning colors and eccentric lamps dredged up from arcane reaches of the internet lend each a distinct sense of place. — Sarah Medford, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026 Ideal for solo travelers, couples, or cocooning honeymooners, this cozy spot away from the crowds is less than a 10-minute drive to the island’s caldera. — Katie Silcox, Vogue, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for cocoon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cocoon
  1. sheath
  2. buffer
  3. wrap
  4. casing
  5. shield
  6. envelop
  7. housing
  8. cushion
Noun
  • Alcaraz is managing tenosynovitis, an injury in which fluid accumulates in the sheath that protects a key tendon in the wrist.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Almost seven weeks after the crime, genetic genealogy linked DNA on a knife sheath to Kohberger, a PhD student in criminology at nearby Washington State University.
    — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 30 July 2026
Definition of sheath
Noun
  • When buffers are thin, rain arriving on time in one region becomes everyone else's insurance policy.
    — Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Also, build a few extra days of buffer into your target closing date.
    — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 31 July 2026
Definition of buffer
Verb
  • The fragrance wraps Turkish rose—a honeyed, full-bodied bloom—in earthy notes of patchouli, sandalwood, and frankincense, while blackcurrant and raspberry add a touch of zest.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Store in an airtight container or tin or wrapped in parchment paper and then aluminum foil at room temperature for up to 5 days.
    — Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of wrap
Noun
  • That'd make for an elite addition to any EDC loadout, especially in 90s-style transparent casing.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Investigators recovered numerous pieces of evidence, including pieces of clothing, fired shell casings, DNA swabs and bullet fragments collected from Cherry’s body, according to the report.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
Definition of casing
Noun
  • Operating continuously beneath complex sub-river geology of riverbed silt and sand, the shield machine operated without intermediate access shafts.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026
  • Digital shield firewall with central computer processor and futuristic motherboard.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of shield
Verb
  • More than three hundred unionized workers at the Victoria & Albert Museum are set to vote on a strike action spurred by the broiling heat that has enveloped the city in recent weeks, The Guardian reports.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 27 July 2026
  • The increasing temperatures come courtesy of the slight expansion of a heat dome that has enveloped much of the central and southern Plains, the southern Rockies, the Desert Southwest and the upper Midwest.
    — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 27 July 2026
Definition of envelop
Noun
  • After her father died during a stint of temporary housing in Trieste, Italy’s new bordertown, Marisa was sent to live in an orphanage as her mother worked.
    — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But the law in question, from 1971, had been designed to encourage developers to build low- and middle-income housing.
    — Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of housing
Noun
  • Despite the Middle East conflict, spending has remained resilient, in part thanks to ​bigger tax refunds this year, which provided a cushion for consumers against higher gasoline prices stemming from the war.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 30 July 2026
  • Despite the Middle East conflict, spending has remained resilient, in part thanks to bigger tax refunds this year, which provided a cushion for consumers against higher gasoline prices stemming from the war.
    — Lucia Mutikani, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of cushion

Browse Nearby Words

coconspirators
cocoon
cocooned
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Cite this Entry

“Cocoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cocoon. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cocoon

Nglish: Translation of cocoon for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cocoon

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