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as in to spoil
to treat with great or excessive care
accused the judiciary of coddling criminals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of coddle
The congressional hearing this morning with Mayor Adams and the mayors of Boston, Chicago and Denver is a partisan Republican display designed to show that the four Democratic mayors are coddling dangerous and violent undocumented criminals who should be deported.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2025
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
And so everybody started to hang onto their babies and coddle them and treat them differently.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2025
But where other modern franchises have found a sweet spot in coddling players just enough to give them the confidence to want to play and improve, City of the Wolves could easily quell any desire to commit with impunity.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coddle
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2025
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
And so everybody started to hang onto their babies and coddle them and treat them differently.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2025
But where other modern franchises have found a sweet spot in coddling players just enough to give them the confidence to want to play and improve, City of the Wolves could easily quell any desire to commit with impunity.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coddle
Verb
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The setup can boil water in just two minutes, perfect for hot beverages, soups, or dehydrated meals while camping or exploring natural areas, where access to conveniences may be limited.—
Will McGough,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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Hanging, inevitably, over the weekend’s celebration was the current occupant of the Oval Office, a boiling black cloud compared to the radiant and sunshiny Reagan.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
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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This week in politics The landmark Kansas-Missouri agreement that largely stopped the two states from poaching Kansas City metro businesses from one another risks collapsing in August, after Missouri lawmakers failed to pass an extension.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2025
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Mediation between the Pac-12 and Mountain West continues Nitty gritty: The conferences met for several days, and perhaps the entire week, but did not resolve the poaching penalty and exit fee lawsuits that have more than $100 million at stake.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
24 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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The nose is fruity and aromatic, showcasing stewed and roasted stone fruits, particularly nectarine and dried apricot, fig jam, and lavender potpourri.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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So, how close is Cruz to realizing his full potential? McCutchen, a 17-year veteran who turns 39 in October, stewed on the question.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
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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Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Australia's economy grew less than expected in the first quarter this year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said in a statement Wednesday, as growth stalled amid the simmering global trade tensions.—
Anniek Bao,Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
4 June 2025
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In the final dish, the cherries are sweet and juicy, having been simmered in a citrusy sauce with hints of vanilla and a splash of bourbon that brings out the sweetness in the fruit.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
2 June 2025
Verb
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Although less worldly than Welles, Anderson has a career that’s better financed, if not pampered, and that remains quintessentially American.—
Armond White,
National Review,
30 May 2025
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The attached Milk + Honey spa provides convenient pampering after travel, with a menu that has everything from an express facial and traditional massages to chemical peels and hair treatments.—
Claudia Fisher,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coddle. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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