as in to spoil
to treat with great or excessive care
the college president is a past master at dandling wealthy alumni
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Recent Examples of dandle
The tale is pilfered from the Aeneid, but Virgil would blench to see the curtain rise on Jupiter, dandling Ganymede, a beautiful boy, upon his knee.
—
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
An hour later, Musk took X to New York and dandled him on his knee while being photographed for Time.
—Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
Vet emailed me a photo of Sly contentedly dandling a grandson in his lap.
—David Kamp, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The day after the election, Taaz Robinson, a fellow third-year, posted a picture on Buckingham’s Facebook page of Donald Trump as an infant being dandled by Vladimir Putin.
—Tara Bahrampour, Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2017
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
An hour later, Musk took X to New York and dandled him on his knee while being photographed for Time.
—Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
Vet emailed me a photo of Sly contentedly dandling a grandson in his lap.
—David Kamp, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The day after the election, Taaz Robinson, a fellow third-year, posted a picture on Buckingham’s Facebook page of Donald Trump as an infant being dandled by Vladimir Putin.
—Tara Bahrampour, Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dandle
Verb
-
Without spoiling anything, the musical’s new ending resembles the vague finale of the novel.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
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This sprout is the early stage of a new garlic plant forming inside the clove, not a sign that your garlic has spoiled.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On Wednesday, SeaWorld personnel released five birds and two sea lions that had been nursed back to health back into the ocean.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Rookie goalie Nikke Kokko, making just his second NHL start with Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer nursing lower-body injuries and Matt Murray away from the team to deal with family matters, stopped 25 shots.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The brothers were each two years apart in age, but younger siblings were never babied; Nick recalled being on the receiving end of numerous pummelings by his older brothers.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Butlers are there to indulge every need or nibble.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
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Teleportation indulges me due to time efficiency, being able to travel anywhere without cost, and just the experience of being anywhere as soon as someone needs me.—
Rick Cantu,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps pasta or pizza with cheese is so comforting because we’re literally being mothered by flowering plants and bovines?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
-
One way to combat that, as a gardener, is to start plants by seed instead of buying plants that someone else has started, watered and mothered for months.—
Henry Homeyer,
The Providence Journal,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Adelman does not coddle players.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Indulge in unlimited caviar, pampering butlers and bespoke suites, while relishing high-tech amenities and evenings that come alive in bars, lounges, and entertainment venues.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
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View from the middle powers Western European workers are famously pampered in comparison to their transatlantic peers.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Beneath a soaring wooden ceiling hung with a trio of dramatically oversize string lamps, Turner softened the blues and dialed up the tactile richness, establishing a more mature, cosseting mood.—
Andrew Sessa,
Robb Report,
5 Apr. 2026
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On the first floor are some of the swishest quarters, with large rooms that benefit from floor-to-ceiling sash windows framed with thick, fringed curtains, original cornicing, cosseting color schemes of blue and rust, and large, comfy lounge areas with plenty of space to stretch out.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dandle. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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