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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 Unlike humans, digital creations don’t need to be pampered, fed or emotionally coddled. — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 6 July 2026 They shouldn’t be coddled; instead, they should be challenged. — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 24 June 2026 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 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
  • Add the chicken broth and orzo, and boil for another 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently so the orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Workers cut it into smaller pieces, then boil it in water with washing soda to soften and separate the plant fibers.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of boil
Verb
  • There is a big revelation less than halfway into the show, one that might even count as a plot twist, and thus something not to be spoiled… if not for the fact that virtually every synopsis in the last 70 years has included it in the first sentence.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Perhaps in another lifetime, or another novel, Ned would find a way to nourish these intimations of benevolence or even love, refusing to let them be spoiled by his own aspirational machismo.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of spoil
Verb
  • Cook salmon skin-side down for crispiness and avoid soft methods like poaching.
    — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2026
  • According to Portillo, Ditka’s team had poached one of his managers.
    — John Lanchester, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of poach
Verb
  • Come with a small group, get your name on the list early, and get ready to indulge.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2026
  • And of course there’s a bookstore in town for indulging your inner Rory.
    — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of indulge
Verb
  • The easygoing Mexican brunch, lunch and dinner spot became a Wesley Heights favorite for its authentic tacos, frozen drinks and stewed pork shoulder pozole rojo served with hominy, shredded cabbage, onions and cilantro over fresh tostadas.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Others are stewed with aromatics and oil to make a riotous take on XO sauce, funky and inky and complex, which gilds the hunks of squash under their corny beurre blanc.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of stew
Verb
  • Khadijah had insisted on nursing their newborn Aziza with her own breast milk, but Latif discovers that only a few pouches remain in the fridge and formula makes his baby sick.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Saquon Barkley is nursing a stinger sustained last week so the Eagles aren’t fully healthy either.
    — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of nurse
Verb
  • But their respective partners were unaware of the feelings simmering under the surface.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026
  • When Stefanski replaced Rush with undrafted rookie quarterback Jack Strand midway through the third quarter, the fanbase largely simmered.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of simmer
Verb
  • The unlicensed recovery center underworld ranges from places that pamper patients with space and very personal care by licensed medical professionals to places that cram patients into spaces minded by people with limited or no medical training.
    — DAVID J. NEAL, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Ask For An Upgrade Moreso than most other vacation stays, all-inclusive resorts exist to pamper their guests.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of pamper

Browse Nearby Words

codas
coddle
coddled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coddle. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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