coddle

verb

cod·​dle ˈkä-dᵊl 

coddled; coddling ˈkäd-liŋ 

ˈkä-dᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to cook (something, such as eggs) in liquid slowly and gently just below the boiling point

coddled the eggs for the Caesar salad

2

: to treat with extreme or excessive care or kindness : pamper

accused the court of coddling criminals

colleges that coddle their athletes

coddler

ˈkäd-lər 

ˈkä-dᵊl-ər

noun

Synonyms

• boil
• parboil
• poach
• simmer
• stew

Examples of coddle in a Sentence

The judges were accused of coddling criminals.

a hearty, traditional breakfast that included coddled eggs

Recent Examples on the Web

Her pain and rage, her desire to be coddled and loved all announced itself with a furious punk purity. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 22 Mar. 2025

Lucy was coddled to the point of depriving her of developing basic life skills. —R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025

The days of appeasing regimes that are hostile to the United States, coddling dictators, and sidelining our national security interests are over. —David Faris, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025

Unlike Proctor, who continues to be pampered and coddled by the brass for his atrocious misbehavior, Cournoyer was run out of the State Police. —Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps altered from caudle "to administer a caudle to," verbal derivative of caudle

Note: The meaning "to pamper," earlier "to treat as if in need of nursing," attested from the second half of the 18th century, cannot be related with certainty to the cooking sense and may be of distinct origin.

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for coddle

• caudal
• caudle
• dawdle
• model
• twaddle
• waddle
• remodel

Kids Definition

coddle

verb

cod·​dle ˈkäd-ᵊl 

coddled; coddling ˈkäd-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to cook slowly in water below the boiling point

coddle eggs

2

: to treat with excessive care or kindness