infantilising
Making someone seem
Infantilising is the British spelling of infantilizing, meaning to treat someone as though they were a child or incapable of adult reasoning and autonomy.
It often carries negative connotations, suggesting condescension or a failure to respect someone's maturity and independence.
The policy was criticised for infantilising welfare recipients.
Parents may be accused of infantilising adult children by continuing to manage their finances or make decisions for them.
Overindulgent, protective treatment
- smotheringDepriving of air
- helicopter parentingExcessive involvement in children's lives
- hoveringSuspended without support
- shieldingProtecting from harm
mollycoddling · cosseting · pampering · babying · hand-holding · spoon-feeding · sheltering · cushioning
Treating someone as inferior
- belittlingExpressing contempt or dismissiveness
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
- dismissiveShowing contemptuous disregard
- talking downPatronizing verbal manner
paternalistic · maternalistic · sneering · scoffing · mocking · contemptuous · derogatory · disparaging
Having youthful innocence
- babyishImmature in behavior
- juvenileYoung person or animal
- immatureNot fully developed
- preadolescentChild nearing puberty
baby talk · dumbing down · simplistic · undeveloped · toddler · diminutive · cutesy · nappy
Weakening by covert means
- stiflingOppressively hot and close
- suppressingForcibly restraining or inhibiting
- marginalizingPushing to the fringes
- sideliningRemoving from participation
restricting · limiting · incapacitating · hobbling · weakening · devaluing · ignoring · silencing
Lacking ability to cope
- relianceState of needing support
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- needyWanting in essentials
- passivityState of non-resistance
compliance · docility · submissiveness · obedience · subordination · incapacity · inexperience · learned helplessness
coddling
Overindulgent, protective treatment
- smotheringDepriving of air
- helicopter parentingExcessive involvement in children's lives
- hoveringSuspended without support
shielding · mollycoddling · cosseting · pampering · babying · hand-holding · spoon-feeding · sheltering · cushioning · micromanaging
patronizing
Treating someone as inferior
- belittlingExpressing contempt or dismissiveness
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
- dismissiveShowing contemptuous disregard
talking down · paternalistic · maternalistic · sneering · scoffing · mocking · contemptuous · derogatory · disparaging · denigrating
childlike
Having youthful innocence
preadolescent · baby talk · dumbing down · simplistic · undeveloped · toddler · diminutive · cutesy · nappy · bib
undermining
Weakening by covert means
- stiflingOppressively hot and close
- suppressingForcibly restraining or inhibiting
- marginalizingPushing to the fringes
sidelining · restricting · limiting · incapacitating · hobbling · weakening · devaluing · ignoring · silencing · excluding
helplessness
Lacking ability to cope
- relianceState of needing support
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- needyWanting in essentials
passivity · compliance · docility · submissiveness · obedience · subordination · incapacity · inexperience · learned helplessness · dependence
infantilisingempowering
Giving authority or confidence
dignifying · respecting · trusting · validating · enabling
infantilisingempowering
Giving authority or confidence
enabling · building up · liberating · strengthening · challenging
infant, infants, infancy, infantile, infanticide, infantilize, infantilized, infantilizing, infantilise