CEFR C1

coddle

verb

Meaning

To treat someone in an overprotective or indulgent way; to pamper.

Examples

She tends to coddle her youngest son, never letting him do chores.
The manager was criticized for coddling underperforming employees instead of addressing their issues.

Synonyms: pamper, spoil, mollycoddle, indulge

Learn English that separates you from the crowd with Anaversity: private classes, Ani practice, Campus tools, and a public English-learning community.

coddle (C1)

verb

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒdl/

Definition

To treat someone in an overprotective or indulgent way; to pamper.

Examples

She tends to coddle her youngest son, never letting him do chores.
The manager was criticized for coddling underperforming employees instead of addressing their issues.
It's important not to coddle children too much, as they need to learn to face challenges.

How to Use coddle

coddle someone (collocation): To treat someone with excessive care and protection. — "Parents should avoid coddling their children too much."
coddle a child (collocation): To overprotect or indulge a child. — "She was accused of coddling her child, never letting him experience hardship."

Synonyms of coddle

Words with a similar meaning to coddle:

Antonyms of coddle

Words with the opposite meaning to coddle:

Browse the full Anaversity dictionary