I. ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: molly (I) + coddle
1. : a pampered darling : a spineless weakling
his mother might turn him into a mollycoddle — Aldous Huxley
catch those mollycoddles getting away from the steam heaters — Everybody's Magazine
specifically : an effeminate man
the men … were mollycoddles, and the women were sexually unemployed — Francis Hackett
2. : goody-goody
these are the words not of a mollycoddle or a sentimentalist, but of a veteran soldier — Nation
II. transitive verb
: to treat with fond indulgence : protect and cater to : pamper , spoil
believes we have mollycoddled women too much — New York Times
judges mollycoddle these young hoods — James McGlincy
Synonyms: see indulge