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Definition of mollycoddle

mollycoddle

/ˈmɑːliˌkɑːdl̩/
mol · ly · cod · dle
Plural:mollycoddles
•
Past Simple:mollycoddled
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Past Participle:mollycoddled
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Present Participle:mollycoddling
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mollycoddle Lexical Profile

mollycoddle Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To treat someone in an overprotective, excessively indulgent, or pampering way.

Example

"If parents mollycoddle their children too much, the kids may struggle to handle everyday setbacks on their own."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

A person, especially a man or boy, who is habitually pampered, overprotected, or accustomed to excessive comfort.

Example

"The coach worried that the overly cautious training regimen would turn the players into mollycoddles."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

mollify
mollusk
molly
mollycoddle
mologa
molopo
molt

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 19th century by combining 'Molly' (a pet form of the name Mary used in 18th-century slang for a girl or an effeminate man) with the verb 'coddle' (meaning to boil gently, and by extension, to pamper an invalid).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mollycoddle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mollycoddle
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