Meaning & use
coddle
Last updated
To treat someone in an overly protective or indulgent way, often to their disadvantage.
See it in a sentence
Critics argued the policy would coddle underperforming employees instead of motivating them.
Grandparents are often accused of coddling their grandchildren.
A note on using this word
Also has a cooking sense meaning to cook an egg gently in water just below boiling; context makes clear which meaning is intended.
Words with a similar meaning
pamperspoil
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. verb
To cook an egg gently in water kept just below boiling point.
She coddled two eggs for breakfast, keeping the yolks soft.
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