mollycoddle

American  

[mol-ee-kod-l] / ˈmɒl iˌkɒd l /

noun

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

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verb (used with object)

mollycoddled, mollycoddling

1. to coddle; pamper.

   Synonyms:

   cosset, indulge, spoil

mollycoddle British  

/ ˈmɒlɪˌkɒdəl /

verb

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

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noun

1. a pampered person

Other Word Forms

• mollycoddler noun

Etymology

Origin of mollycoddle

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

Explanation

Mollycoddle means to spoil or overindulge something. You can think of mollycoddle as an extreme form of coddle. If you constantly fuss over your dog and serve her homemade food while she's resting on a soft feather bed, you mollycoddle her. Mollycoddle began as a noun describing a man who pampered or indulged himself too much. When applied to men, Molly, the woman's name, was a slur meaning "too feminine." No longer just for men, the verb mollycoddle describes any kind of excessively indulgent or overprotective treatment. A coach may mollycoddle his star player by planning practice around his schedule, or you may mollycoddle your little sister by doing her homework for her when she says she's tired.

Example Sentences

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

From Salon • Jul. 19, 2023

Molly Roberts, true to her name, didn’t mollycoddle the baby boomer generation in her Nov. 6 Wednesday Opinion column, “OK, boomer. The kids are fighting back.”

From Washington Post • Nov. 8, 2019

That may annoy European bankers, but is hardly a reason to mollycoddle them.

From Economist • Oct. 15, 2015

One of the worst things about Britain, she says, is how we mollycoddle our children and encourage them to expect the worst of strangers.

From The Guardian • Apr. 2, 2010

I don’t want my boy to be a mollycoddle.

From The Prairie Child by Ward. E. F. (Edmund Franklin)