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 Serrano comes across as someone with no inclination to coddle elite students. — Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026 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 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
  • Plus, the sauce cooks while the pasta boils, putting this firmly in weeknight-dinner territory.
    — Rachel Gurjar, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026
  • A lot of uncertainty remains in the lift capacity of Starship, as well as in how much cryogenic methane and liquid oxygen will boil off in orbit and how efficient the process of transferring propellants from one ship to another will be.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of boil
Verb
  • My interruptions only spoiled the spontaneous flow of Bob’s thoughts.
    — Keith McDermott, Vanity Fair, 30 Oct. 2026
  • In at least one case, refrigeration units' temperatures were turned up overnight, leaving large quantities of food wilted or spoiled by morning, Reuters reported.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of spoil
Verb
  • Macron has also successfully poached multiple party members to serve in his Cabinet, blurring the relationship further.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Ellison, who poached Mattel’s Ynon Kreiz to serve as co-CEO, could use Musk’s capital to bolster the company’s cost-cutting and technological efforts.
    — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of poach
Verb
  • As European society indulges its whims, the continent hurtles unthinkingly toward a devastating war.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The show is based on Rachel Reid’s bestsellers about two hockey players, one Canadian, one Russian, who indulge a private love affair.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of indulge
Verb
  • The Fighting Irish have had a couple weeks to stew over what happened at BYU and will take it out on an underperforming Navy defense.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, in the background, favorable sentiments about statement pieces have been stewing.
    — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of stew
Verb
  • Joeys will leave the pouch at about 235 days old, but will continue to nurse until about 1-year-old, sometimes longer.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The Saints could be without star quarterback Brailon Davis who’s nursing an injury, but backup Bodie Brown has stepped in and completed 32 of 45 for 454 yards and seven touchdowns in the past two games.
    — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of nurse
Verb
  • Add the cardamom and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the rhubarb is completely broken down and the jam has thickened, about 25 minutes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • But Langley’s affection for his hometown hasn’t kept his company from drawing, even in Atlanta, the kinds of criticism over issues of privacy, mistakes and misuse that have been simmering nationwide.
    — Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of simmer
Verb
  • These days, the playing field has widened considerably, with gentle chemical formulas and K-beauty options designed to pamper and protect the skin.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026
  • At one point luxury travel meant being able to be anywhere and have the comforts of your office—yachts and Aman resorts offer satellite service and Wi-Fi so that you can be pampered but still take a meeting or be active in the family group chat.
    — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 2026.

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