mollycoddled
Treated too gently
Mollycoddled means treated with excessive care or protection, pampered to the point of weakness.
Someone who has been mollycoddled was shielded from hardship or difficulty, often with the implication they're now ill-equipped for real challenges: He'd been mollycoddled his whole life and couldn't handle criticism.
The word carries a faintly contemptuous tone toward both the coddler and the coddled.
Excessively sheltered or indulged
- pamperedLavished with indulgence
- shelteredKept safe from harm
- smotheredDeprived of air
- helicopteredConveyed by rotorcraft
babied · overprotected · shielded · cosseted · wrapped in cotton wool · fussed over · safeguarded · cushioned
Ruined or overindulged
- waited onProvided table service
- indulgedYielded to desire
- pettedStroked with affection
- favoredShown special preference
coddled · pampered · humored · gratified · pleased · appeased · accommodated · served
Yielding to touch
- weakLacking power or force
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- dependentRequiring outside support
helpless · incapable · unprepared · unskilled · inexperienced · naive · immature · cowardly
Pejorative for effeminate male
- milksopFeeble, unassertive person
- mama's boyOverly dependent adult son
- softieTenderhearted person
- snowflakeFeathery ice crystal
wimp · pushover · weakling · namby-pamby · lily-livered · spineless · meek · timorous
coddled
Excessively sheltered or indulged
helicoptered · babied · overprotected · shielded · cosseted · wrapped in cotton wool · fussed over · safeguarded · cushioned · insulated
spoiled
Ruined or overindulged
favored · coddled · pampered · humored · gratified · pleased · appeased · accommodated · served · nurtured
soft
Yielding to touch
dependent · helpless · incapable · unprepared · unskilled · inexperienced · naive · immature · cowardly · timid
sissy
Pejorative for effeminate male
- milksopFeeble, unassertive person
- mama's boyOverly dependent adult son
- softieTenderhearted person
snowflake · wimp · pushover · weakling · namby-pamby · lily-livered · spineless · meek · timorous · feeble
- overprotectivesmothered, hovering, helicopter parenting, infantilized, bubble wrapped
mollycoddledneglected
Not given proper attention
ignored · abandoned · mistreated · abused · disregarded
mollycoddledtoughened up
Became more resilient
hardened · disciplined · put through the wringer · steeled · tempered
mollycoddle, mollycoddling, mollycoddles, mollycoddler, mollycoddlers