1
as in birthplace
a place of origin
Philadelphia is known as "the cradle of liberty" because it was there that the Declaration of Independence was signed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in source
a point or place at which something is invented or provided
the 1848 meeting at Seneca Falls, New York, is often regarded as the cradle of the women's suffrage movement
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in to mother
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 cradle
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 3 Feb. 2026
This allows the watch to be placed in a cradle, where the LVDB-003 Sympathique Louis Varius clock will adjust it.
—Thor Svaboe, Robb Report, 2 Feb. 2026
Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
They’re made with real leather and are cushioned to cradle your foot.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cradle
Noun
The test took place in Xinjiang’s Altay region, an area widely regarded as the cradle of human skiing, where winter temperatures can plunge well below what most commercial robots are designed to endure, reports Humanoids Daily.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 3 Feb. 2026
This allows the watch to be placed in a cradle, where the LVDB-003 Sympathique Louis Varius clock will adjust it.
—Thor Svaboe, Robb Report, 2 Feb. 2026
Verb
These orthotic-rivaling insoles offer several benefits and are strategically designed to cradle your feet.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
They’re made with real leather and are cushioned to cradle your foot.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cradle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cradle
Noun
-
Reflecting those sentiments, last Sunday, Pheu Thai failed to win any seats in the northern city of Chiang Mai, Thaksin’s birthplace and the Shinawatra heartland.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Often considered the birthplace of the city, the park sits on land reclaimed in the 1960s from former textile mills, transforming an industrial corridor into one of Greenville’s most beloved—and beautiful—public spaces.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
With thousands of families afraid to leave their homes and with no source of income, mutual aid networks, large and small, ramped up to offer everything from food delivery to rent assistance to laundry service.—
Nick Woltman,
Twin Cities,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Two sources who attended the party described witnessing a loud verbal exchange between Nick Reiner and his parents.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For astro shooters, this is unlikely to be a major drawback, and for other shooters, there's always another way to use a filter, with a bit of creativity or using an alternative clamping system.—
Tantse Walter,
Space.com,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The blacksmith clamped this tang into the hilt and secured it with rivets, reported Archaeology News.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Key strands of the film are about mothering with laser focus on the parents played by Okonedo and Mallen.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Nevertheless, Pearl continues to mother him.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Military and dual-use AI capabilities, many with commercial origins, are being tested and deployed.—
Jared Cohen,
Time,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Soma, a young woman who is searching for her own origins.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Regardless of equipment chosen, the movement begins with your arms extended and your palms facing up while gripping the weight.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Still, Postecoglou, who only entered the radar of British football fans after taking charge of Celtic in June 2021, manages to grip audiences better than almost anyone else in the game with his straight-talking brand and non-negotiable footballing approach.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Also planned are an 8- to-10-foot-wide synthetic turf strip, hose bibs, drinking fountains, boulders and log agility features.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Dubbed Blue Palms, the chic villa sports an aquamarine waterfall fountain out front and an ocean-facing infinity pool out back.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Goodson says that's due to growing close to the ground and having delicate, porous skin that these residues can cling to easily.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Officers detained two men of Indian descent, but local residents stopped the van from leaving the neighborhood; one man even clung to the vehicle after sliding underneath.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cradle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cradle. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
