as in to spoil
to treat with great or excessive care
refused to mollycoddle her malingering son and sent him off to school
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Recent Examples of mollycoddle
You’re not mollycoddled during the week and are expected to act as any professional crew member would.
—
Helen Iatrou, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2023
So football generally, and pro football specifically, helped reassure the country that American men were not mollycoddled softies.
—James Surowiecki, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2019
Koenig may have supported Bernie Sanders in 2016, but Sanders’s mollycoddling platform never approaches the real-life perplexities that Koenig — a pop poet — sings about.
—Armond White, National Review, 10 Dec. 2019
Her poise is the result of a loving yet punctilious upbringing by parents determined that their fame and its accompanying perks were not going to mollycoddle their two children.
—Michael Callahan, Town & Country, 1 Aug. 2018
Both sides are mollycoddling their own predicaments with this talk.
—Chad Pergram, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2018
This mollycoddled outdated practices, like harvesting by hand.
—The Economist, 14 Dec. 2017
Helen Iatrou, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2023
So football generally, and pro football specifically, helped reassure the country that American men were not mollycoddled softies.
—James Surowiecki, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2019
Koenig may have supported Bernie Sanders in 2016, but Sanders’s mollycoddling platform never approaches the real-life perplexities that Koenig — a pop poet — sings about.
—Armond White, National Review, 10 Dec. 2019
Her poise is the result of a loving yet punctilious upbringing by parents determined that their fame and its accompanying perks were not going to mollycoddle their two children.
—Michael Callahan, Town & Country, 1 Aug. 2018
Both sides are mollycoddling their own predicaments with this talk.
—Chad Pergram, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2018
This mollycoddled outdated practices, like harvesting by hand.
—The Economist, 14 Dec. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mollycoddle
Verb
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Dodge won't spoil the surprise by confirming if the last one will be based on the Charger or the Challenger (or maybe both), but the evidence suggests the latter is more likely.—
Jack Fitzgerald,
Car and Driver,
13 Feb. 2023
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Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.—
Monica Mark,
The Christian Science Monitor,
10 Feb. 2023
Verb
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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
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Signs of a successful feeding routine include: Your newborn is nursing often.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
26 May 2025
Verb
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Their admirably robust menu indulges coastal cravings via seasonal oysters and Gulf shrimp while appeasing land lovers with steakhouse favorites and handmade pastas.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
26 May 2025
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This multicultural circus indulges the racial stereotyping that should be Hwang’s subject.—
Armond White,
National Review,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Instead of doing anything to correct her delinquent son, Mahnaz coddles the boy and resents those who attempt to discipline him.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
22 May 2025
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Why are her landlord and the town of Huntley still coddling her?—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Be babied by him with back rubs, head scratches and order fast food for dinner.—
Emily St. Martin,
Oc Register,
9 May 2025
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But Vance thinks the real problem is that people just aren’t babying hard enough.—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
8 May 2025
Verb
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Filming wrapped in February, and a release date has yet to be announced. Transforming a wildly popular, hyperactive manga with more than 1,100 episodes into a live-action series is no easy feat, but Netflix's reimagining of One Piece pleased noobs and fans alike.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
30 May 2025
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Not for a grade, not for schoolwide recognition or honors, not for a potential scholarship, not to please a parent.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Fortunately, many of its best hotels have pampering, restorative wellness amenities and programs.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
25 May 2025
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Once Alicia was brought back to health, she was adopted into a loving home where she's now completely pampered and treated like a princess.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mollycoddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mollycoddle. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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