kid-gloved
Treated with care
Kid-gloved describes handling something with extreme delicacy or gentleness, as if wearing gloves made of soft kidskin leather.
The term usually carries a note of criticism—suggesting excessive caution or unwillingness to be tough: The press gave the candidate kid-gloved treatment.
A kid-gloved approach avoids confrontation or harsh measures.
Socially sensitive and careful
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- considerateMindful of others' needs
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
courteous · discreet · polite · respectful · circumspect · judicious · measured · restrained
Exercising caution and attention
- waryGuardedly alert
- gingerPungent culinary rhizome
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- soft-pedaledDiminished in emphasis
hands-off · nonconfrontational · risk-averse · gentle · measured · watchful · restrained · conservative
Too willing to yield
- permissiveTolerant, lacking strictness
- tolerantAccepting of differences
- forgivingInclined to pardon offenses
- mercifulDisposed toward forgiveness
compassionate · soft-hearted · forbearing · easygoing · understanding · patient · mild · tender
Excessively sheltered or indulged
- shelteredKept safe from harm
- spoiledRuined or overindulged
- protectedKept from harm
- cushionedMade softer or gentler
babied · cosseted · doted · privileged · insulated · overprotected · shielded · wrapped in cotton wool
tactful
Socially sensitive and careful
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- considerateMindful of others' needs
sensitive · courteous · discreet · polite · respectful · circumspect · judicious · measured · restrained · subtle
careful
Exercising caution and attention
soft-pedaled · hands-off · nonconfrontational · risk-averse · gentle · measured · watchful · restrained · conservative · hesitant
indulgent
Too willing to yield
- permissiveTolerant, lacking strictness
- tolerantAccepting of differences
- forgivingInclined to pardon offenses
merciful · compassionate · soft-hearted · forbearing · easygoing · understanding · patient · mild · tender · accommodating
coddled
Excessively sheltered or indulged
cushioned · babied · cosseted · doted · privileged · insulated · overprotected · shielded · wrapped in cotton wool · mollycoddled
kid-glovedheavy-handed
Clumsy and oppressive
iron-fisted · rough · harsh · brutal · blunt
kid-glovedblunt
Dull or tactlessly direct
harsh · brutal · unvarnished · undiplomatic · tactless