spoon-fed

[ spoon-fed ]

adjective

1. fed with a spoon.
2. treated with excessive solicitude; pampered.
3. given no opportunity to act or think for oneself:

   Having always been spoon-fed, I couldn't meet the challenge of college.

Word History and Origins

Origin of spoon-fed¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

He believes viewers should be active participants and not just have everything spoon-fed to them.

From Los Angeles Times

To put it another way, neither the state legislators nor the governors had to break a sweat to draft and enact these measures — they were spoon-fed the texts.

From Los Angeles Times

At a scoop shop in downtown Manhattan, a large white poodle was spoon-fed what appeared to be vanilla ice cream.

From New York Times

Sometimes, somebody comes on and they’re not an actor and are spoon-fed.

From Los Angeles Times

When the spoon-fed upbringing is disguised, or when a Stanley cup is used to codify a well-off person that hasn’t lost their humble sensibilities, it creates an ethical, grand sense of accomplishment, a sense that this person pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and achieved the ol’ American dream.

From Salon