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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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Guests peered into industrial kitchens to see students prepare their dishes, or sat in on demos ranging from how to make Belizean stewed chicken over coconut rice to an ice sculpture presentation by Trade-Tech professor Martin Gilligan.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2025
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When journeyman veteran Luis García’s ninth pitch to Suárez in the sixth was called a ball to walk in the go-ahead run, Prior stewed.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
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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But the tax cut bill also reignited months of simmering market anxiety about the stability of the US financial system and drove a sharp Treasury selloff as investors weighed the risks posed by estimates the bill would pile additional trillions onto the US debt.—
Phil Mattingly,
CNN Money,
22 May 2025
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The match simmered nicely in a very competitive first set before Alcaraz’s clay court cojones started to click.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
18 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
“Coddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coddle. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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