coddle

verb

ˈkä-dᵊl How to pronounce coddle (audio)
Definition of coddlenext
1
as in to boil
to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam a hearty, traditional breakfast that included coddled eggs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to spoil
to treat with great or excessive care accused the judiciary of coddling criminals

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 coddle This lifestyle caused many citizens to accuse the military of coddling the enemy. — Helaine Williams, Arkansas Online, 20 June 2026 She has been coddled and cloistered within her city, but the spreading vegetation interferes with that way of life. — Hannah Gold, New Yorker, 17 June 2026 Still, James Bond media can't coddle our fears. — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026 Viewed harshly, Hacks is less a great Hollywood comedy than a deeply coddling fantasy, but there’s also a softer, more interesting way to read it. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for coddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coddle
  1. boil
  2. spoil
  3. poach
  4. indulge
  5. stew
  6. nurse
  7. simmer
  8. pamper
Verb
  • The river dropped 60 feet between boulders in a series of falls and continued downstream in a dangerous half mile of holes and boils.
    — John Todd, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026
  • The only cooking required here is boiling the shrimp for a few minutes and toasting the buns.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 8 July 2026
Definition of boil
Verb
  • Whether they're getting greased after a Super Bowl or spoiling All-Star rosters, does any city's poles get as much attention as Philadelphia's?
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
  • Both suet and hummingbird nectar are very susceptible to spoiling from the heat.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Definition of spoil
Verb
  • Twenty years ago, the Serengeti ecosystem faced a severe crisis from poaching and ecological imbalance, threatening wildlife and local communities.
    — Sherry McAllister, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • The new species could help prevent poaching and is detailed in a study published today in the journal Communications Biology.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 July 2026
Definition of poach
Verb
  • On that note, resist the urge to bury discomfort by indulging, shopping or being stubbornly silent.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
  • Will blamed Cal for the idea; Cal, Will for indulging it; both of them the other for not being the one dead.
    — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Definition of indulge
Verb
  • Just as Phillies fans will scream about my snub of Marsh, Dodgers fans will stew over my omission of Wrobleski, especially when Wheeler did not return from thoracic outlet surgery until April 25.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC appears noticeably more clear and less green in the weeks before the Fourth of July as renovation work continues, but controversy still stews.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 22 June 2026
Definition of stew
Verb
  • Fiji's Selestino Ravutaumada was nursing the rolling ball when Adams reached between his legs and touched it down for a try.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • The video assistant referee called for a review of the play while the two were down getting tended to by trainers, leaving the Americans to nurse their lead down a man for the rest of the game.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of nurse
Verb
  • Firms moving goods across the border from the UAE into Saudi Arabia are complaining of delays lasting up to several days in some instances, in a sign of the simmering tensions between the Gulf’s largest economies.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 9 July 2026
  • And what else simmers beneath the surface in this tense family drama?
    — Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of simmer
Verb
  • An emphasis on wellness means not only pampering spa treatments but advanced health tech, movement, and meditation sessions over an entire floor.
    — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • In the Concierge collection of suites on Norwegian Joy, you will also be pampered with spacious accommodations, concierge service, and private dining.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
Definition of pamper

Browse Nearby Words

codas
coddle
coddled
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Cite this Entry

“Coddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coddle. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on coddle

Nglish: Translation of coddle for Spanish Speakers

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