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
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In one scene, Little Death lays outrageously bloody waste to the frisky incoming counselors of Camp Miasma (played by Zach Cherry, Quintessa Swindell, and Eva Victor, among others) in a long take set to a needle drop that shouldn’t be spoiled but that adds up to something worthy of blissing out to.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
14 May 2026
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That said, Collingwood cautions that soups made with certain ingredients such as dairy, meat, or seafood will spoil faster.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Agnes is nursing a mocktail when Daisy notices her alone, which is convenient because Agnes has some menstrual pads to give her.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
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In fact, the Central Florida Zoo is playing a hero’s role in this heartbreaking rescue, following official guidelines from the national Association of Zoos and Aquariums in trying to nurse the sloths back to health.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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To devotees of classic sartorial elegance—especially those who indulge that passion on Instagram—Alexander Kraft needs no introduction.—
Nick Scott,
Robb Report,
3 May 2026
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Serge, indulging his penchant for modern art, buys a large, expensive, completely white painting, with some slightly-less white lines.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Saturday Night Live host Matt Damon was cast as the adoring husband in Mom, an entirely inoffensive movie where nothing bad happens—something that mothers everywhere will enjoy.—
William Vaillancourt,
Rolling Stone,
10 May 2026
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My mother lost her own mother at 14 and was never fully mothered back to wholeness.—
Eli Raphael,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
Verb
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No matter how much his disability impacted his daily routine, Nic notes that his parents never coddled him.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
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That includes dishes such as shrimp po-boy toast with caviar, coddled egg with andouille and tasso, and old bay hollandaise.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Celebrities to have already been pampered at the suite include house ambassadors Natalie Portman, Charlize Theron, Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
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The separation pampered white prejudices and soothed white conscience and stomachs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Earthy, moody colors cosset wellness-seekers in the treatment rooms, making way for organic cream hues in the diminutive swimming pool.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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The building’s hard edges were tempered with woolen wall hangings and ceramics, along with rustic wooden and worn leather furniture, lending the place a cosseting softness.—
Simon Willis,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dandle. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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