spoon-fed

[ spoon-fed ]

/ ˈspunˌfɛd /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR spoon-fed ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

fed with a spoon.

treated with excessive solicitude; pampered.

given no opportunity to act or think for oneself: Having always been spoon-fed, I couldn't meet the challenge of college.

Nearby words

spoon bow, spoon bread, spoon hook, spoon nail, spoon theory, spoon-fed, spoon-feed, spoonbill, spoonbill catfish, spoondrift, spoonerism

Origin of spoon-fed

First recorded in 1900–05

Definition for spoon-fed (2 of 2)

spoon-feed

[ spoon-feed, -feed ]

/ ˈspunˈfid, -ˌfid /

verb (used with object), spoon-fed, spoon-feed·ing.

to cause to be spoon-fed.

Origin of spoon-feed

First recorded in 1605–15

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for spoon-fed

The conclusions of the advisory report were spoon-fed to a friendly group of Japanese political reporters two days ago.
Japanese Women Tell Their Men They Have to Choose Between Love and War|Jake Adelstein, Angela Erika Kubo|May 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Drudge simply “reported” on that fact—or rather was spoon-fed it by disgruntled internal sources.
Julian Assange Loves Rand Paul and His ‘Very Principled Positions’|Michael Tomasky|August 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Do American movie-going audiences in 2012 really need to be spoon-fed a justification for the killing of Osama bin Laden?
Is Zero Dark Thirty Propaganda?|Michael Tomasky|December 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It was difficult to get her to eat, and she had to be spoon-fed.
Benign Stupors|August Hoch

If men could be spoon-fed with happiness, a benevolent despotism would be the ideal system.
Liberalism|L. T. Hobhouse
At times he would partake only of liquid nourishment, then again would have to be spoon-fed.
Studies in Forensic Psychiatry|Bernard Glueck
She had to be spoon-fed at times, again she ate naturally when the food was brought.
Benign Stupors|August Hoch
Accustom people to be nose-led and spoon-fed, and democracy is a mere pretence.
Another Sheaf|John Galsworthy

British Dictionary definitions for spoon-fed

spoon-feed

verb -feeds, -feeding or -fed (tr)

to feed with a spoon

to overindulge or spoil

to provide (a person) with ready-made opinions, judgments, etc, depriving him of original thought or action

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012