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
After seven years of trapping, swaddling, collaring and monitoring them in the Twin Cities, Miller doesn’t think his middle-school self was far off.
—
Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
Best Swaddle Wrap For a swaddling option that’s secure while leaving some room for convenient variety, this easy swaddle wrap is a handy nursery item.
—Devonne Goode, Parents, 7 Apr. 2026
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
Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
Best Swaddle Wrap For a swaddling option that’s secure while leaving some room for convenient variety, this easy swaddle wrap is a handy nursery item.
—Devonne Goode, Parents, 7 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swaddling
Verb
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In 2025, soon after closing its merger with Skydance, Paramount clinched a 7-year deal with the UFC as the mixed martial arts circuit was wrapping its deal with ESPN.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
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Cullen is accused of transporting his mother's deceased body from Lee County to Charlotte County, wrapping her in a rug, weighing it down with cinder blocks, and disposing of it in the river.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Verb
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These red carpet-worthy pieces include dramatically draping diamond necklaces, icy diamond and ruby bracelets, superb emerald and diamond jewels and celestial sapphire and diamond rings.—
Kyle Roderick,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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Simple styling tricks like tying, wrapping, or draping a scarf can transform basic pieces into more polished, creative looks.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swaddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swaddling. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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