overprotective
Too cautiously guarding
Overprotective describes someone who shields another person—usually a child—from harm or difficulty to an excessive degree.
An overprotective parent might not let children play unsupervised or make their own mistakes: Her overprotective mother still calls her every night.
The word implies the protection does more harm than good, preventing normal development or independence.
Depriving of air
- hoveringSuspended without support
- coddlingOverindulgent, protective treatment
- stiflingOppressively hot and close
- clingingGripping without release
enveloping · babying · pampering · cosseting · infantilizing · overindulgent · hand-holding · spoon-feeding
Placing restrictions upon
- confiningLimiting freedom of movement
- prohibitivePreventing through excess
- shelteringProtecting from elements
- shieldingProtecting from harm
guarded · cautious · constraining · curbing · forbidding · preventive · rule-bound · curfew
Aggressively asserting control
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
- helicopterRotary-wing aircraft
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
meddling · interfering · intrusive · paternalistic · possessive · commanding · directive · micromanaging
Full of fright
- worriedTroubled by uncertainty
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
hypervigilant · paranoid · dreading · panicky · phobic · insecure · obsessive · fretful
Supportive care-giving
- dotingExcessively affectionate toward
- devotedLoyally and lovingly attached
- attentivePaying close notice
- lovingFeeling deep affection
maternal · paternal · parental · solicitous · concerned · watchful · well-meaning · affectionate
suffocating
Depriving of air
- hoveringSuspended without support
- coddlingOverindulgent, protective treatment
- stiflingOppressively hot and close
clinging · enveloping · babying · pampering · cosseting · infantilizing · overindulgent · hand-holding · spoon-feeding · cushioning
limiting
Placing restrictions upon
- confiningLimiting freedom of movement
- prohibitivePreventing through excess
- shelteringProtecting from elements
shielding · guarded · cautious · constraining · curbing · forbidding · preventive · rule-bound · curfew · boundaries
domineering
Aggressively asserting control
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
- helicopterRotary-wing aircraft
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
surveillance · meddling · interfering · intrusive · paternalistic · possessive · commanding · directive · micromanaging · overbearing
fearful
Full of fright
apprehensive · hypervigilant · paranoid · dreading · panicky · phobic · insecure · obsessive · fretful · catastrophizing
nurturing
Supportive care-giving
- dotingExcessively affectionate toward
- devotedLoyally and lovingly attached
- attentivePaying close notice
loving · maternal · paternal · parental · solicitous · concerned · watchful · well-meaning · affectionate · guardian
- overparentinghelicopter parenting, helicopter parent, mollycoddling, mollycoddle, coddling
- soft parentingpermissive, lenient, doting, pampering, coddling
- parenting stylesauthoritative, authoritarian, permissive, neglectful, attachment parenting
overprotectiveneglectful
Failing to care properly
negligent · careless · inattentive · hands-off · unconcerned
overprotectiveneglectful
Failing to care properly
permissive · free-range · negligent · derelict · lenient
overprotectivecareless
Inattentive, prone to mistakes
unconcerned · indifferent · nonchalant · inattentive · oblivious