mollycoddle crossword puzzle clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Answercrossword.com! If you're looking for solutions to the clue "mollycoddle crossword puzzle clue," you've come to the right place. We provide a comprehensive list of answers, sorted by letter count, along with helpful explanations to get you back on track.
Solutions for "mollycoddle crossword puzzle clue" by Letter Count
4 Letters
BABY: To treat someone with excessive care and affection, often to their detriment.
5 Letters
SPOIL: To harm the character of (a child) by being too lenient or indulgent; to coddle.
6 Letters
PAMPER: To treat with extreme kindness or indulgence, often to excess.
CODDLE: To treat in an overly indulgent or protective way.
7 Letters
INDULGE: To allow oneself or another to enjoy the pleasure of something, often to excess or beyond what is reasonable.
More About "mollycoddle crossword puzzle clue"
The term "mollycoddle" is a somewhat archaic but vivid word that means to treat someone with excessive care and affection, often to the point of spoiling them or making them weak. In crosswords, clues related to "mollycoddle" test your vocabulary for synonyms of pampering, overprotecting, and babying. These clues often appear in various puzzle types, from daily quick crosswords to more complex cryptic puzzles.
Understanding the nuances of "mollycoddle" can significantly help in solving. Is the puzzle looking for a gentle act of care or an overbearing one? The context of surrounding clues and letters will often guide you to the precise answer. Familiarizing yourself with words like PAMPER, SPOIL, CODDLE, INDULGE, and BABY will give you a strong advantage when this clue appears.
The etymology of "mollycoddle" suggests a feminine or effeminate way of treating someone ('molly' often being a diminutive for Mary, or a term for a weak person, combined with 'coddle'). This historical context reinforces the idea of over-nurturing and can sometimes provide subtle hints in highly themed or intricate crosswords.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Analyze the Word Length: Always start by checking the number of letters required. For a clue like "mollycoddle," knowing whether it's 4, 5, 6, or 7 letters immediately narrows down your options significantly, as demonstrated by the answers above.
- Consider Synonyms and Antonyms: Think about words that mean the same as "mollycoddle" (like pamper, spoil) and also their opposites (neglect, toughen). Sometimes a clue might be phrased as an antonym.
- Look for Contextual Clues: Check if other completed words intersect with your "mollycoddle" answer. These intersecting letters are your strongest hints, often making a specific answer evident over others.
- Think of Figurative Meanings: While "mollycoddle" is quite direct, some clues might require you to think about phrases or idiomatic expressions that convey the same meaning.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the meaning of 'mollycoddle' in crosswords?
In crosswords, 'mollycoddle' refers to actions like pampering, spoiling, coddling, or treating someone with excessive care and indulgence. Answers usually revolve around synonyms for these behaviors.
How many letters do typical 'mollycoddle' answers have?
Common answers for 'mollycoddle' clues can range from 4 letters (e.g., BABY) to 7 letters (e.g., INDULGE), with many solutions falling in the 5-7 letter range like SPOIL, PAMPER, or CODDLE.
What are some related crossword clues to 'mollycoddle'?
Related clues might include 'Treat with excessive care', 'Overindulge', 'Spoil rotten', 'Nurse fondly', or 'Pamper excessively'. The answers for these would often overlap with those for 'mollycoddle'.