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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Telling the truth would cost millions and would spoil every car on the gravy train.—
Adam Graham,
Boston Herald,
4 June 2026
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While the Giants had a chance to spoil Harrison’s predictable revenge game, the Brewers effectively put the game to rest by scoring four runs in the bottom of the eighth to create a commanding five-run lead.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Can nursing home debt lead to Social Security garnishment?—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
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The textile mill that gave Berkshire its name was the original bad business, one Buffett nursed for 20 years before finally shutting it down.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
1 June 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
-
Ollinger was known to indulge fans with tales of unusual encounters with possible paranormal connection.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2026
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The sun’s ingress into Cancer later this month, for instance, brings focus to themes of travel, education and long-term visions, making this a pivotal month to explore (and indulge) what gives your life purpose and meaning.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Virginia Dulles was the opposite of Louanne Bixby—even a hundred children couldn’t exhaust her need to mother them.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
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
Verb
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Too few advocates Former teammates, including star cornerback Richard Sherman, thought Seahawks coach Pete Carroll coddled Wilson early in the quarterback's career, leading to resentment from members of a defense that led the league in points allowed across an NFL-record four consecutive seasons.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
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Still, James Bond media can't coddle our fears.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The service, though less than efficient, is delivered with unfailing Midwestern goodwill; rooms are spartan but have pampering touches such as heated bathroom floors and beds as soft as ermine.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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At the first Guerlain Wellness location on the West Coast, the resort’s spa is a sanctuary with 12 treatment rooms and a double VIP suite where guests can sink into a pampering range of beauty treatments.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
23 May 2026
Verb
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Down at the bottom of the hierarchy, or really not ranked at all, is Lucien (Jérémy Gillet), a fey and cosseted twink of privilege who longs to meet Jim but is kept at home, safely away from anything gay, by his domineering mother.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Dandle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dandle. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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