as in wrapping
to wrap (someone, especially a baby) tightly with a blanket, pieces of cloth, etc.
He swaddled the baby in a blanket.
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Recent Examples of swaddling
Instead, the convent’s nine bookable guest rooms are more akin to sleeping over at your grandmother’s house, swaddling you in a familiar, matronly feeling of being watched over and cared for from a distance.
—
Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
The veteran sideline reporter and member of FOX Sports’ A-Team braved the freezing temperature in Philly by swaddling herself in a capacious coat, which drew comparisons to a diverse array of notorious icons of warmth including Cruella De Ville, Jon Snow, emus, mob wives, pimps, and Ric Flair.
—Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 14 Jan. 2026
The twinkling of elaborate Christmas lights swaddling a nearby Louis Vuitton store underscored the point.
—Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Police said that minutes later, Karschnick is seen swaddling the baby and taking her out of the crib, but the infant continues crying and screaming, and her arm looks limp, per the complaint cited by WBAY.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
The veteran sideline reporter and member of FOX Sports’ A-Team braved the freezing temperature in Philly by swaddling herself in a capacious coat, which drew comparisons to a diverse array of notorious icons of warmth including Cruella De Ville, Jon Snow, emus, mob wives, pimps, and Ric Flair.
—Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 14 Jan. 2026
The twinkling of elaborate Christmas lights swaddling a nearby Louis Vuitton store underscored the point.
—Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Police said that minutes later, Karschnick is seen swaddling the baby and taking her out of the crib, but the infant continues crying and screaming, and her arm looks limp, per the complaint cited by WBAY.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swaddling
Verb
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The smog season regularly did a number on our mile-high mountains, wrapping them in a brown cloak of invisibility until wind and rain swept the sludge away.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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Hanks and Goetzman are just wrapping Greyhound 2 in Australia.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Instead of draping yourself in lace (which can feel a bit overdone), try a flowy white gown with a delicate floral pattern for events like showers, parties, and rehearsal dinners.—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Glamour,
25 Mar. 2026
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Baptista was a vision of radiance in a silver Zuhair Murad gown that featured an off-the-shoulder design, plunging neckline, cinched waist, draping details, and flowy floor-sweeping skirt.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swaddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swaddling. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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