infantilize
Deny someone maturity
To infantilize someone is to treat them as incapable or childlike when they are not—denying them autonomy, speaking down to them, or making decisions on their behalf: The nursing home staff infantilized residents by using baby talk.
Systems and institutions can infantilize by removing choice: Helicopter parenting infantilizes teenagers.
The word carries criticism of the one doing the infantilizing, not the one being treated this way.
Overindulge or poach gently
- smotherDeprive of air
- babyVery young child
- pamperIndulge excessively
- mollycoddleOverindulge with excessive protection
cosset · helicopter · hover · shield · shelter · swaddle · spoon-feed · hand-hold
Act superior toward
- belittleTo make something seem unimportant
- demeanLower in standing
- dismissSend away or reject
- trivializeMake light of
diminish · underestimate · disparage · mock · deride · disdain · sneer · ridicule
Lacking ability to cope
- immaturityUndeveloped condition
- regressionReturn to former state
- relianceState of needing support
- incompetenceLack of required skill
vulnerability · naivety · neediness · clinginess · incapacity · underdevelopment · childishness · dependence
Weaken by stealth
- marginalizeTreat as insignificant
- subjugateBring under dominion
- silenceTotal lack of sound
- suppressForcibly put an end to
stifle · weaken · disenfranchise · invalidate · discredit · sideline · control · restrict
coddle
Overindulge or poach gently
mollycoddle · cosset · helicopter · hover · shield · shelter · swaddle · spoon-feed · hand-hold · cushion
patronize
Act superior toward
trivialize · diminish · underestimate · disparage · mock · deride · disdain · sneer · ridicule · scoff
helplessness
Lacking ability to cope
- immaturityUndeveloped condition
- regressionReturn to former state
- relianceState of needing support
incompetence · vulnerability · naivety · neediness · clinginess · incapacity · underdevelopment · childishness · dependence · powerlessness
undermine
Weaken by stealth
- marginalizeTreat as insignificant
- subjugateBring under dominion
- silenceTotal lack of sound
suppress · stifle · weaken · disenfranchise · invalidate · discredit · sideline · control · restrict · subordinate
infantilizeempower
Grant authority or confidence
emancipate · liberate · trust · enfranchise · dignify
infantilism, infantilized, infantilizing, infantilization, infantilizes, infantilise, infantilised, infantilising