coddling

Definitions

The act of treating someone in an overindulgent or excessively protective manner.

The process of cooking something, such as an egg, in water kept just below the boiling point.

Examples

The coach believed that coddling the star athlete would only hinder his long-term development.

She realized that by constantly coddling her children, she was preventing them from learning how to handle life's challenges.

Synonyms

pampering spoiling mollycoddling babying indulging cosseting mothering

Antonyms

neglecting disciplining toughening hardening abandoning ignoring mistreating