mollycoddle

[ mol-ee-kod-l ]

noun

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

verb (used with object)

, mol·ly·cod·dled, mol·ly·cod·dling.

1. to coddle; pamper.

   Synonyms: cosset, indulge, spoil

mollycoddle

/ ˈmɒlɪˌkɒdəl /

verb

1. tr to treat with indulgent care; pamper

noun

1. a pampered person

Derived Forms

• ˈmollyˌcoddler, noun

Other Words From

• molly·coddler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mollycoddle¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of mollycoddle¹

C19: from molly ² + coddle

Example Sentences

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

From Salon

I went from my parents’ mollycoddled child to an adult that had to do their own laundry.

From The Verge

How much longer will the responsible citizens of Washington state and the United States have to bend over backward to accommodate and mollycoddle the irresponsible while the coronavirus continues to rage unabated?

From Seattle Times

“I don’t think we can be mollycoddled to live in a bubble the whole time.”

From Washington Post

“She’s very worked up and her voice is going all over the place as she’s trying to talk about the economy and not mollycoddling the public, which is one of her favorite topics,” Anderson says.

From Los Angeles Times