cocoon 1 of 2

noun

kə-ˈkün How to pronounce cocoon (audio)
Definition of cocoonnext
1
as in sheath
something that encloses another thing especially to protect it he retired to the cocoon of his study whenever he'd had enough of the company

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in buffer
something that serves as a protective barrier as the TV had been packed in a cocoon of Styrofoam, it arrived in one piece

Synonyms & Similar Words

cocoon

2 of 2

verb

as in to wrap
to surround or cover closely cocooned in puffy down parkas, we braved the bitter cold as best we could

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of cocoon
Noun
If mass transfer occurs too early, say millions of years before the final supernova blast, the team found that the material spreads far away from the binary stars, dissipating the surrounding cocoon. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 July 2026 The model wore a cocoon of black feathers that extended from the top of her head down to her torso. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 8 July 2026
Verb
The most joyful moments unfold in the four bedrooms, where cocooning colors and eccentric lamps dredged up from arcane reaches of the internet lend each a distinct sense of place. — Sarah Medford, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026 Ideal for solo travelers, couples, or cocooning honeymooners, this cozy spot away from the crowds is less than a 10-minute drive to the island’s caldera. — Katie Silcox, Vogue, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for cocoon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cocoon
  1. sheath
  2. buffer
  3. wrap
  4. casing
  5. shield
  6. envelop
  7. housing
  8. cushion
Noun
  • The two-time Olympic champion from Norway hadn’t raced since having surgery early this year to clean up scar tissue on the protective sheath around his left Achilles tendon.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Gay then allegedly returned to his vehicle and came back with a machete in its sheath.
    — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of sheath
Noun
  • Options are available for the whole family including the delectable Daisy collection – including pedi buffers, DC and Harry Potter designs, men's scents, spongelato and more.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Energy security also requires strong buffers against supply disruptions.
    — Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of buffer
Verb
  • The chain replaced its soft bun with a more sturdier version, changed the recipe for its mayonnaise and now serves it in a box instead of wrapped in paper.
    — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Docker moved in a different direction with its MCP Catalog and Toolkit, containerizing servers and wrapping them in secret management, policy enforcement and audit logging.
    — Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of wrap
Noun
  • Its front door was six inches too short for its frame and outfitted with a bathroom push knob instead of a lever handle, almost as if the original slab had been blown from its casing by an internal explosion.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
  • One of those shell casings was entered into the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), which compares shell casings and other evidence and connects them to shootings involving the same firearm.
    — Mark Morales, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of casing
Noun
  • Hydrogen, which has no neutrons, has roughly double that ratio of any other element, which is why water is often cited as a good space radiation shield.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Ornamental shields and coats of arms are decorated with castles, crosses, lions, flags, and crowns.
    — Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of shield
Verb
  • On an 1888 rolling historic Victorian estate just off the bustling South Congress Avenue, Hotel Saint Cecilia offers a lavish collection of 20 bungalows, suites, and studios enveloped in a lush canopy of trees.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
  • That trough disrupted the high pressure bubble near the Great Basin that was responsible for a West Coast heat wave that finally enveloped the Bay Area last week.
    — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of envelop
Noun
  • The distinctive frame already resembles the aircraft that will eventually soar through Titan’s dense orange skies, complete with landing skids, support arms for its eight rotors and the housing for its nuclear power system.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Algorithms have indeed been found to disadvantage Black people in hiring, healthcare, policing, lending, housing and other domains.
    — Shaun Harper, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of housing
Noun
  • Tromso’s substantial first-leg cushion did at least provide Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler and his staff with a bit more time to prepare for the tests that await them.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • These costs can increase over time, so build in a cushion when setting your ceiling.
    — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of cushion

Browse Nearby Words

coconspirators
cocoon
cocooned
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Cite this Entry

“Cocoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cocoon. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cocoon

Nglish: Translation of cocoon for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cocoon

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