Merriam - Webster Word of the day *mollycoddle*

mollycoddle



verb


mol·​ly·​cod·​dle ˈmä-lē-ˌkä-dᵊl
mollycoddled; mollycoddling ˈmä-lē-ˌkäd-liŋ
-ˌkä-dᵊl-iŋ

Synonyms of mollycoddle

transitive verb
: to treat with an excessive or absurd degree of indulgence and attention
mollycoddler
ˈmä-lē-ˌkäd-lər
-ˌkä-dᵊl-ər
noun

mollycoddle
2 of 2
noun
dated, disparaging : a pampered or effeminate man or boy
Did you know?

Coddling eggs is delicate business. You need to cook them slowly and gently, keeping the water just below boiling. Given how carefully you need to treat the eggs, it's not surprising that some believe the cooking sense of coddle led to the sense meaning “to treat with excessive care or kindness.” Another source is possible though: the “pamper” coddle may be linked to caudle, a curative drink of yore made usually of warm ale or wine mixed with bread or gruel, eggs, sugar, and spices. Regardless, mollycoddle was formed by combining the “pamper” sense of coddle with Molly, a nickname for Mary. In its earliest known uses in the mid-1800s, mollycoddle was a noun, a disparaging and now-dated synonym of our modern wimp. But in short time, it was being used as the verb you're likely to encounter today.
Synonyms

Verb

   baby
   cocker
   coddle
   cosset
   dandle
   indulge
   nurse
   pamper
   spoil
   wet-nurse

Choose the Right Synonym for mollycoddle

indulge, pamper, humor, spoil, baby, mollycoddle mean to show undue favor to a person's desires and feelings.

indulge implies excessive compliance and weakness in gratifying another's or one's own desires.
indulged myself with food at the slightest excuse

pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect.
pampered by the amenities of modern living

humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims.
humored him by letting him tell the story

spoil stresses the injurious effects on character by indulging or pampering.
foolish parents spoil their children

baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude.
babying students by grading too easily

mollycoddle suggests an excessive degree of care and attention to another's health or welfare.
refused to mollycoddle her malingering son

Examples of mollycoddle in a Sentence
Verb The coach has been mollycoddling the team's star players. refused to mollycoddle her malingering son and sent him off to school
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
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
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mollycoddle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology

Noun

Molly, nickname for Mary
First Known Use

Verb

1865, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of mollycoddle was in 1837