Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense mollycoddles, present participle mollycoddling, past tense, past participle mollycoddled
verb
If you accuse someone of mollycoddling someone else, you are critical of them for doing too many things for the other person and protecting them too much from unpleasant experiences.
[disapproval]
Christopher accused me of mollycoddling Andrew. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: pamper, baby, ruin, pet More Synonyms of mollycoddle
mollycoddle in British English
(ˈmɒlɪˌkɒdəl)
verb
1. (transitive)
to treat with indulgent care; pamper
noun
2.
a pampered person
Derived forms
mollycoddler (ˈmollyˌcoddler)
noun
Word origin
C19: from molly2 + coddle
mollycoddle in American English
(ˈmɑliˌkɑdəl)
noun
1.
a man or boy used to being coddled, or protected, pampered, etc.; milksop
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈmollyˌcoddled or ˈmollyˌcoddling
2.
to pamper; coddle
Derived forms
mollycoddler (ˈmollyˌcoddler)
noun
Word origin
Molly + coddle
Examples of 'mollycoddle' in a sentence
mollycoddle
He grew alarmed by my bouts of breathless coughing; mollycoddle, he said, but he said it with fright in his face.
Hilary Mantel LEARNING TO TALK: SHORT STORIES (2003)
He was becoming a mollycoddle and a coward, she said, and it was time he stood on his own feet.
Elizabeth Peters HE SHALL THUNDER IN THE SKY (2003)
(verb)
Definition
to give an excessive amount of care and protection to
He accused me of mollycoddling the children.
Synonyms
pamper
Her parents have pampered her since the day she was born.
baby
My parents never babied me, unless I was really ill.
ruin
The original decor was all ruined during renovation.
pet
She had petted her son all his life.
spoil
Grandparents are often tempted to spoil their grandchildren.
indulge
She did not agree with indulging children.
cosset
Important clients were cosseted and pampered like royalty.
coddle
I coddled my youngest son dreadfully.
Seepamper
Nearby words of
mollycoddle
molecule
molest
mollify
mollycoddle
molten
mom
moment
Synonyms of 'mollycoddle'
mollycoddle
Explore 'mollycoddle' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of indulge
Definition
to allow (someone) to have or do everything he or she wants
She did not agree with indulging children.
Synonyms
spoil,
pamper,
cosset,
baby,
favour,
humour,
give in to,
coddle,
spoon-feed,
mollycoddle,
fawn on,
overindulge
in the sense of pet
Definition
to treat as a pet
She had petted her son all his life.
Synonyms
pamper,
spoil,
indulge,
cosset,
baby,
dote on,
coddle,
mollycoddle,
wrap in cotton wool
in the sense of ruin
Definition
to destroy or spoil completely
The original decor was all ruined during renovation.
Synonyms
spoil,
damage,
mar,
mess up,
blow (slang),
injure,
undo,
screw up (informal),
botch,
mangle,
cock up (British, slang),
disfigure,
fuck up (offensive, taboo, slang),
make a mess of,
bodge (informal),
crool or cruel (Australian, slang)
in the sense of spoil
Definition
to weaken the character of (a child) by giving it all it wants
Grandparents are often tempted to spoil their grandchildren.