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 water plant in Castleton-on-Hudson sustained damage during the flooding, leading to an advisory for local residents to boil their water and reduce water usage, officials said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
  • While many proponents of any AI innovation often lead with some metric on efficiency, such as time and cost saved, Kamimura was not quick to boil all their hard work to a mere number.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 29 July 2026
Definition of boil
Verb
  • As Tom Holland’s summer blockbusters take over the big screen, X has spoiled yet another one of the actor’s theatrical releases.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 31 July 2026
  • Ballot spoiling was the subject of a 2022 lawsuit brought by a Republican group.
    — Scott Bauer, Twin Cities, 29 July 2026
Definition of spoil
Verb
  • Even if eggs are boiled or poached, pairing them with healthy fats like avocado or nuts can provide the fat needed to support vitamin D absorption.
    — Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 26 July 2026
  • However, that plan seems to have hit a snag, as days before the Codex Micro appeared, Apple sued OpenAI, accusing it of stealing trade secrets to build its hardware and of poaching ex-Apple staff for confidential product details.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 July 2026
Definition of poach
Verb
  • Night Seven indulged Bon Jovi’s love for sports, with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and tennis legend John McEnroe mingling backstage.
    — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026
  • The Fifth Avenue Hotel There’s nothing quite like a former Gilded Age mansion to put you in the mood to indulge.
    — Spencer Whaley, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of indulge
Verb
  • Idda takes an epic approach to unearthing the packed layers of a stewing friendship.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 21 July 2026
  • Roasting, stewing, baking—those are all great ways to make okra.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 13 July 2026
Definition of stew
Verb
  • Bordelon first learned about nursing through his aunt, who was a nurse.
    — Andrea Hsu, NPR, 21 July 2026
  • South Korean retail investors who piled into leveraged bets on the country’s AI champions are nursing steep losses, exposing the risks of the speculative trading boom that helped fuel one of the world’s hottest equity markets.
    — Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 21 July 2026
Definition of nurse
Verb
  • Ever since the Spaniard announced that a wrist injury would sideline him through the end of the clay-court season, and then through Wimbledon, the sport’s ever-simmering terror around them has threatened to boil over.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • That simmering frustration has now collided with Blanche’s nomination to become attorney general after serving in the role on an acting basis.
    — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 30 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coddle. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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