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This mollycoddled outdated practices, like harvesting by hand.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This mollycoddled outdated practices, like harvesting by hand.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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There was tension to endure soon after half-time as Sparta Rotterdam equalized against PSV while Ajax nursed a one-goal lead at home against FC Twente to give it temporary command over the table.—
Jeff Rueter,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
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Eight hours later, Bickel was still there, nursing a beer on the patio while watching federal agents down the street walk in and out of the suspect’s house.—
Libor Jany,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2025
Verb
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Parents can unwind with cocktails poolside or indulge at the spa while little ones immerse themselves in the SoBe Kids Club, designed for ages four to 12.—
Katie Lara,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
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The Santa Monica pad existed mainly as the ultimate clubhouse, a place where Jimmy and a dozen or so regulars could indulge their obsession with padel.—
David T. Friendly,
Air Mail,
10 May 2025
Verb
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President Nixon accused the Warren Court of coddling criminals, says Laura Kalman, a research professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
16 May 2025
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And so everybody started to hang onto their babies and coddle them and treat them differently.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
15 Jan. 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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It's even claimed to reduce the creation of contrails, which will please some conspiracy theorists.—
David Szondy
May 16,
New Atlas,
16 May 2025
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Do the citizens of the United States really want food, health care, housing, clean air and water, cancer research and much more taken away from us in order to have a military parade to please the president?—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
12 May 2025
Verb
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Continue reading here Angels box score MLB scores MLB standings WNBA From Anthony De Leon: Even on Mother’s Day — the day dedicated to relaxation and pampering for moms — the Sparks will take the hardwood in Torrance, sweating through defensive sets, refining footwork and hitting jumpers.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2025
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Guests can also choose pampering with facials, body scrubs, and a range of wellness experiences.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mollycoddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mollycoddle. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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