as in wrapping
to wrap (someone, especially a baby) tightly with a blanket, pieces of cloth, etc.
He swaddled the baby in a blanket.
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Recent Examples of swaddling
After seven years of trapping, swaddling, collaring and monitoring them in the Twin Cities, Miller doesn’t think his middle-school self was far off.
—
Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
Best Swaddle Wrap For a swaddling option that’s secure while leaving some room for convenient variety, this easy swaddle wrap is a handy nursery item.
—Devonne Goode, Parents, 7 Apr. 2026
Instead, the convent’s nine bookable guest rooms are more akin to sleeping over at your grandmother’s house, swaddling you in a familiar, matronly feeling of being watched over and cared for from a distance.
—Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
The veteran sideline reporter and member of FOX Sports’ A-Team braved the freezing temperature in Philly by swaddling herself in a capacious coat, which drew comparisons to a diverse array of notorious icons of warmth including Cruella De Ville, Jon Snow, emus, mob wives, pimps, and Ric Flair.
—Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 14 Jan. 2026
The twinkling of elaborate Christmas lights swaddling a nearby Louis Vuitton store underscored the point.
—Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Police said that minutes later, Karschnick is seen swaddling the baby and taking her out of the crib, but the infant continues crying and screaming, and her arm looks limp, per the complaint cited by WBAY.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
Best Swaddle Wrap For a swaddling option that’s secure while leaving some room for convenient variety, this easy swaddle wrap is a handy nursery item.
—Devonne Goode, Parents, 7 Apr. 2026
Instead, the convent’s nine bookable guest rooms are more akin to sleeping over at your grandmother’s house, swaddling you in a familiar, matronly feeling of being watched over and cared for from a distance.
—Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
The veteran sideline reporter and member of FOX Sports’ A-Team braved the freezing temperature in Philly by swaddling herself in a capacious coat, which drew comparisons to a diverse array of notorious icons of warmth including Cruella De Ville, Jon Snow, emus, mob wives, pimps, and Ric Flair.
—Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 14 Jan. 2026
The twinkling of elaborate Christmas lights swaddling a nearby Louis Vuitton store underscored the point.
—Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Police said that minutes later, Karschnick is seen swaddling the baby and taking her out of the crib, but the infant continues crying and screaming, and her arm looks limp, per the complaint cited by WBAY.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swaddling
Verb
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Attendees began lining up outside the Idaho Central Credit Union Arena hours before the event and as the start time ticked closer, the line snaked far down the sidewalk and began wrapping around the dome where the University of Idaho football team plays.—
Saige Miller,
NPR,
30 Apr. 2026
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The trek will continue through the fall and into early 2027, wrapping with a four-night stand at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, February 11, 12, 15, and 16.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Fragrant blue-green foliage is accented by unique flowers reminiscent of hops, with papery, rose-pink bracts draping the plant all summer.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
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The star's honey blonde hair was swept up into a twist at the top of her head with a long ponytail draping down and a few tendrils framing her face.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swaddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swaddling. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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