swaddle

verb

swad·​dle ˈswä-dᵊl 

swaddled; swaddling

ˈswäd-liŋ,

ˈswä-dᵊl-iŋ 

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

One photo showed her newborn swaddled in a blanket on her lap with her eyes closed. —Kayla Grant, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025

Ugg Faux Shearling Hooded Robe Courtesy of brand 6/25 Ugg Faux Shearling Hooded Robe $98 Nordstrom Wearing this Ugg robe is like being swaddled in a little cloud, with its ultrasoft faux shearling lining and cozy hood. —Neha Tandon, Glamour, 17 Jan. 2025

Watching Severance’s title sequence is like being swaddled by a night terror — in a good way. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2025

Waterhouse swaddled herself in a camel faux fur coat with oversized lapels, which appears to be the Miley coat from The Frankie Shop. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2025

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

Rhymes for swaddle

• caudal
• caudle
• dawdle
• model
• twaddle
• waddle
• remodel

Kids Definition

swaddle

verb

swad·​dle ˈswäd-ᵊl 

swaddled; swaddling ˈswäd-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

: to wrap an infant with swaddling clothes