mollycoddle

[mol-ee-kod-l]

noun

1. a man or boy who is used to being coddled; a milksop.

verb (used with object)

mollycoddled, mollycoddling 

1. to coddle; pamper.

   Synonyms: cosset, indulge, spoil

mollycoddle

/ ˈmɒlɪˌkɒdəl /

verb

1. (tr) to treat with indulgent care; pamper

noun

1. a pampered person

Other Word Forms

• mollycoddler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mollycoddle¹

First recorded in 1825–35; Molly (a female name used in the sense “effeminate man”) + coddle

Word History and Origins

Origin of mollycoddle¹

C19: from _molly ² + _coddle

Example Sentences

He was also critical of what he called a culture of "hiding behind words like 'wellbeing'" and "mollycoddling" children.

From BBC

His passion for her grows to such a pitch that he starts bounding up stairs instead of crawling over them like a mollycoddled toddler.

From Los Angeles Times

For all the female agency on display, Barbie still has to placate and mollycoddle the insecure Ken.

From Salon

I went from my parents’ mollycoddled child to an adult that had to do their own laundry.

From The Verge

How much longer will the responsible citizens of Washington state and the United States have to bend over backward to accommodate and mollycoddle the irresponsible while the coronavirus continues to rage unabated?

From Seattle Times