infantilizes
Demeans through babying
Infantilizes means to treat someone as incapable or childlike, denying them the autonomy or respect due an adult.
Parents may infantilize grown children by making decisions for them.
Institutions infantilize when they impose excessive restrictions: The policy infantilizes students by requiring permission slips for everything.
The word carries implicit criticism—suggesting the treatment is demeaning or unwarranted.
Overindulgent, protective treatment
- smotheringDepriving of air
- helicopter parentingExcessive involvement in children's lives
- hoveringSuspended without support
- babyingTreating as helpless
shielding · mollycoddling · pampering · cosseting · overbearing · suffocating · sheltering · hand-holding
Superior and dismissive manner
- patronizingTreating someone as inferior
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
- dismissiveShowing contemptuous disregard
- paternalisticRestrictive under guise of care
talks down · underestimating · trivializing · disparaging · contemptuous · scornful · mocking · derisive
Weakens by stealth
- marginalizesRelegates to insignificance
- disenfranchisesRemoves someone's voting rights
- silencesStops from speaking
- invalidatesMakes no longer binding
diminishes · weakens · subjugates · devalues · suppresses · sidelines · stifles · disables
Lacking ability to cope
- immaturityUndeveloped condition
- relianceState of needing support
- passivityState of non-resistance
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
naivety · docility · compliance · submissiveness · obedience · gullibility · inexperience · impressionability
coddling
Overindulgent, protective treatment
- smotheringDepriving of air
- helicopter parentingExcessive involvement in children's lives
- hoveringSuspended without support
babying · shielding · mollycoddling · pampering · cosseting · overbearing · suffocating · sheltering · hand-holding · spoon-feeding
condescending
Superior and dismissive manner
- patronizingTreating someone as inferior
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
- dismissiveShowing contemptuous disregard
paternalistic · talks down · underestimating · trivializing · disparaging · contemptuous · scornful · mocking · derisive · snide
undermines
Weakens by stealth
- marginalizesRelegates to insignificance
- disenfranchisesRemoves someone's voting rights
- silencesStops from speaking
invalidates · diminishes · weakens · subjugates · devalues · suppresses · sidelines · stifles · disables · excludes
helplessness
Lacking ability to cope
- immaturityUndeveloped condition
- relianceState of needing support
- passivityState of non-resistance
vulnerability · naivety · docility · compliance · submissiveness · obedience · gullibility · inexperience · impressionability · regression
infantilizesuplifts
Raises emotionally or physically
strengthens · bolsters · enables · builds up · cultivates