coddle
verb (used with object)
to treat tenderly; nurse or tend indulgently; pamper.
coddling
-
present participleof coddle.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Yet while the justices care not a fig for coddling the president, they do have a deep interest in the reputation of their own institution.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 2, 2026
Indeed, Secretary Warfighter’s need for constant coddling is being ever more severely exposed as this scandal unfolds.
From Salon ● Dec. 3, 2025
The hosts of the summit treated the university, battered by accusations of coddling antisemitism, as a business-school case study on leadership in higher education, complete with a slide presentation on its plummeting reputation.
From New York Times ● Feb. 20, 2024
When we’re formulating policies for children as a whole rather than coddling our own little angels, we fall scandalously short.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 9, 2024
Instead of coddling his precinct commanders, Bratton demanded accountability.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
