swaddle

verb

swad·​dle ˈswä-dᵊl How to pronounce swaddle (audio)
swaddled; swaddling
ˈswäd-liŋ, 
ˈswä-dᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce swaddle (audio)
Synonyms of swaddlenext

transitive verb

1
a
: to wrap (an infant) with swaddling clothes
b
: envelop, swathe
legs swaddled in bandages
2
: restrain, restrict
… marriage … swaddled him in a domesticity he came to loathe …—Nina Auerbach

Examples of swaddle in a Sentence

He swaddled the baby in a blanket.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The family snaps included a black-and-white image of a shirtless Hefner cradling the newborn, Lambropoulos Hefner introducing her daughter to their son Forrest, 3, as well as Forrest holding his baby sister, who was sweetly swaddled in pink. — Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026 In the early months, they’re used to swaddle newborns (often with a silent prayer for a nap that’s longer than 20 minutes). — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 4 Aug. 2026 The East Palo Alto Police Department posted a separate video from the rescue that shows the dog swimming furiously with seagulls circling overhead and firefighters scooping him out of the murky water and swaddling him in towels. — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026 This swept away Iran’s monarchy and birthed a state that is part theocracy, part republic, with a handful of semi-democratic institutions swaddled by a system that is ultimately clerical. — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for swaddle

Word History

Etymology

Middle English swadelen, swathelen, probably alteration of swedelen, swethelen, from swethel swaddling band, from Old English; akin to Old English swathian to swathe

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of swaddle was in the 14th century

Rhymes for swaddle

See All Rhymes for swaddle

Browse Nearby Words

swad
swaddle
swaddler
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Cite this Entry

“Swaddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swaddle. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

swaddle

verb
swad·​dle ˈswäd-ᵊl How to pronounce swaddle (audio)
swaddled; swaddling ˈswäd-liŋ How to pronounce swaddle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
: to wrap an infant with swaddling clothes

More from Merriam-Webster on swaddle

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for swaddle

Nglish: Translation of swaddle for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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