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

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

Sinclair’s novel is told from the perspective of Peter, “a patriot of patriots, a super-patriot; Peter was a red-blooded American and no mollycoddle; Peter was a ‘he-American’, a 100% American ...

From The Guardian • Apr. 21, 2018

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

From Economist • Oct. 15, 2015

We didn't bring the boy out here to make a mollycoddle of him.

From Held Fast For England A Tale of the Siege of Gibraltar (1779-83) by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)