baby 1 of 3

1
2
3
4
as in complainer
a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things don't be such a baby—the shot didn't hurt that much

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

baby

2 of 3

verb

baby

3 of 3

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb baby contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of baby are humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, and spoil. While all these words mean "to show undue favor to a person's desires and feelings," baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude.

babying students by grading too easily

When might humor be a better fit than baby?

The synonyms humor and baby are sometimes interchangeable, but humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims.

humored him by letting him tell the story

When can indulge be used instead of baby?

The words indulge and baby can be used in similar contexts, but indulge implies excessive compliance and weakness in gratifying another's or one's own desires.

indulged myself with food at the slightest excuse

Where would mollycoddle be a reasonable alternative to baby?

The words mollycoddle and baby are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mollycoddle suggests an excessive degree of care and attention to another's health or welfare.

refused to mollycoddle her malingering son

In what contexts can pamper take the place of baby?

In some situations, the words pamper and baby are roughly equivalent. However, pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect.

pampered by the amenities of modern living

When would spoil be a good substitute for baby?

The meanings of spoil and baby largely overlap; however, spoil stresses the injurious effects on character by indulging or pampering.

foolish parents spoil their children

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of baby
Noun
The scientists gathered the baby humpback whale sightings from a variety of sources, including migration surveys, stranding reports and citizen science observations from tourism boats. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2025 The news came one year after the couple welcomed their first baby, a son named Romeo, and just as the Minnesota Timberwolves were set to compete in the conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 20 May 2025
Verb
The sensitive child of the bunch doesn’t need to be babied. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 28 Nov. 2023 Plus, judging by Dustin May, Walker Buehler and many others, babying a pitcher doesn’t seem too effective. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2023 See All Example Sentences for baby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baby
Noun
  • Another victim was 27-year-old Mary Reiner, who had just returned home after giving birth to her first child.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Ensure child and pet safety: Take every precaution to never leave young children and pets alone in vehicles, especially in extreme heat when car interiors can quickly become hazardous.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • The fungal disease does not spread from person to person, according to the CDC.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Practice the right way Great speakers don’t just practice more than the average person.
    Carmine Gallo, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Ole Miss had success against Root for the second time this season.
    Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2025
  • There is an even spread of success and failure, of ethnicities and inherited dysfunction, along with a predictable checklist of social problems endemic to deprivation.
    Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • While Sir Alex Ferguson and his players were still nursing hangovers from their epic Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich in May 1999, Cunha came into the world in the Brazilian state of Paraiba.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 29 May 2025
  • Signs of a successful feeding routine include: Your newborn is nursing often.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 26 May 2025
Adjective
  • The duo weave through the small streets of Rome in mini Fiat 500s at top speeds.
    Skyler Trepel, People.com, 25 May 2025
  • For a taste of the unusual, check out the Burger King in Kayenta, Arizona, which is home to a mini museum honoring the Navajo Code Talkers, who helped transmit secret messages to Allied forces during World War II.
    Matt Alderton, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • Advertisement Advertisement Supporters frame baby drop boxes as a beautiful solution for all parties involved—relinquishing parents, infants anonymously surrendered, and families who eventually adopt them.
    Time, Time, 28 May 2025
  • Nursery night-lights work well for children who are afraid of the dark and people who need to get up in the middle of the night with their tired infant.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • As Rusby talks of finding god and becoming a better man, Kev screws a silencer onto his pistol.
    Matt Cabral, EW.com, 26 May 2025
  • But even worse is to see the dark lessons of history, the dangerous choices of weaker men, and follow in those footsteps.
    Val Demings, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 May 2025
Noun
  • Their guide, speaking to the New York Times, credited their accomplishment to a secret advantage: prior to the trip, the climbers inhaled xenon gas, which may have made their acclimatization to the low-oxygen environment of Everest easier.
    Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 29 May 2025
  • During 2024-25, the company achieved a notable accomplishment: a 3% year-on-year sales increase in China.
    Gemma A. Williams, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Baby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baby. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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