verb
coddle
KOD-uhl
Coddle (verb) means to treat someone with excessive care, protection, or indulgence. Example: “His parents coddled him well into adulthood.”
verb
1
To treat someone with excessive care, protection, or indulgence.
"His parents coddled him well into adulthood."
"Stop coddling the interns — let them make their own mistakes."
2
To cook gently in water just below boiling point, especially of eggs.
"Coddle the eggs for six minutes for a soft, creamy yolk."
How to use coddle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo spoil someone with too much care, or to cook something gently in barely-simmering water.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "cuddle" (to hold affectionately) — coddle is about overprotecting, not embracing.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
coddle a child
coddled eggs
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like coddle.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- coddles
- Third person singular
- coddles
- Past tense
- coddled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His parents _____ him well into adulthood.
Etymology
Probably from "caudle," an old word for a warm, comforting drink given to invalids — the sense of gentle care carried over into both the pampering and cooking meanings.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “coddle” mean?
The word “coddle” means to treat someone with excessive care, protection, or indulgence. In plain terms, to spoil someone with too much care, or to cook something gently in barely-simmering water.
How do you pronounce “coddle”?
“Coddle” is pronounced KOD-uhl (/ˈkɑ.dəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “coddle” in a sentence?
Here is “coddle” used in a sentence: “His parents coddled him well into adulthood.”
What is another word for “coddle”?
Words with a similar meaning to “coddle” include pamper, posset and spoil.
What part of speech is “coddle”?
“Coddle” is a verb.
How many meanings does “coddle” have?
“Coddle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to treat someone with excessive care, protection, or indulgence.
