coddles

verb

present tense third-person singular of coddle
1
as in boils
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 spoils
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 coddles Posing feet-up on a Diamond Chair by Harry Bertoia for his photoshoot, Schrieber actually coddles a hen on his lap. — Tanya Fevzi, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026 While Tony coddles his own bruised ego, there is clearly a greater reason for the cruel hijinks, which comes in the form of some significant cash. — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026 Some will argue that focusing on these issues coddles skeptics and slows necessary transformation. — Ajay Pundhir, Forbes.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coddles
  1. boils
  2. spoils
  3. simmers
  4. indulges
  5. nurses
  6. pampers
  7. pleases
  8. babies
Verb
  • If the water gets too hot, well, the poor little froggy boils to death.
    — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The second a Verizon worker mentions adding a screen protector, my blood boils.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of boils
Verb
  • This story spoils the plot of the film Whalefall, now out in theaters, based on Daniel Kraus‘ novel.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The royal banquet is supposed to be a celebration of Macbeth’s power, but the presence of the morally upright ghost spoils everything!
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of spoils
Verb
  • The Earth Kingdom is very height of the Chinese bureaucracy-coded, for instance, while the Fire Nation simmers with the sharp industrialism of Imperial Japan.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
  • And what else simmers beneath the surface in this tense family drama?
    — Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of simmers
Verb
  • Professional patient Argan indulges his every ailment, and schemes to marry off his daughter to a doctor to save on medical bills.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Lee indulges that emotional ambiguity, the way the pedal steel can blur the distinction between a frown and a smile.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
Definition of indulges
Verb
  • At the family estate, Sybylla, who nurses inchoate hopes of becoming a writer, is to be remade into a suitable wife.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Ultimately, Etna’s closest bond is with the itinerant medic Hong who nurses his emaciated, shrapnel-scarred body.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of nurses
Verb
  • The Old Riverton Post Guesthouse Loft, in an 1860s-era building, pampers travelers with two bedrooms, a full kitchen, dining room, and balcony, all decorated in vintage style and Route 66 touches.
    — Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Infused with the brand’s signature scent—a warm, sophisticated blend of amber, musk, and florals—this shampoo not only cleanses but also pampers the senses.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Definition of pampers
Verb
  • And sore must be the storm indeed that can abash the foliage fiesta that pleases so many eyes.
    — Dana Kelley, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Coastal decor darling Serena & Lily brings you the Pacifica modular collection to suit any configuration that pleases you.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026
Definition of pleases
Verb
  • Each new piece was crafted to be simple, functional, and beautiful, giving parents peace of mind and babies a nurturing space to grow.
    — Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
  • Hummers are the smallest and lightest of birds, some weighing no more than a coin, some babies the size of a bean.
    — Kate Siber, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025
Definition of babies

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Cite this Entry

“Coddles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coddles. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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