1
as in birthplace
a place of origin
Philadelphia is known as "the cradle of liberty" because it was there that the Declaration of Independence was signed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in source
a point or place at which something is invented or provided
the 1848 meeting at Seneca Falls, New York, is often regarded as the cradle of the women's suffrage movement
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in to mother
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 cradle
Sara Coughlin, SELF, 28 May 2025
The five pounds of foam cradles your curves for ultimate comfort and pressure relief.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025
Janine Henni, People.com, 19 May 2025
Contributor Nick Mafi loves this bed for its cradling comfort and the brand’s manufacturing practices.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cradle
Noun
Bonus: There are cradles for your dumbbells, along with a tablet holder.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 28 May 2025
The five pounds of foam cradles your curves for ultimate comfort and pressure relief.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025
Verb
Other milestones include a 2018 trip to Norfolk in the U.K., an ultrasound image of and baby bump photo during Meghan’s pregnancy with Archie, and Prince Harry cradling their newborn in the first hour after his birth in 2019.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 19 May 2025
Contributor Nick Mafi loves this bed for its cradling comfort and the brand’s manufacturing practices.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cradle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cradle
Noun
-
Bruce Springsteen is performing his first-ever shows in Liverpool, England — the birthplace of the Beatles — this week, so naturally Paul McCartney came out to join the E Street Band for a couple of songs Saturday.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
8 June 2025
-
After decades of Russian and European chess dominance, the spotlight is on India, the likely birthplace of the ancient game.—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
8 June 2025
Noun
-
Climate change and shifting food sources are also causing species-wide population declines, the experts said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
8 June 2025
-
As a bonus, this fast-growing ground cover provides food sources for pollinators.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
Animal Farm, published in 1945 as the Soviet Union was clamping its pincers on Eastern Europe, and 1948 – published at a time when Stalin had drawn the Iron Curtain between East and West – illustrate the moral depravity of the powerful who exert dominance over the powerless.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
16 May 2025
-
Lu Dort and his reinforcements clamped Jamal Murray.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
8 May 2025
Verb
-
One of her reasons for leaving was to focus on mothering her two daughters.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
28 May 2025
-
Dana is really mothering to her fullest at the top of the hour.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In conversation with Forbes Life, Stoddard speaks about her travels during her research, the origins of ralli and the future of this age-old, beautiful craft.—
Sonya Rehman,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
-
The movie charts the influential British rock group's origin story in the late 1960s, from their earliest days – and how everybody wasn't all about that now-iconic name – to their meteoric rise as one of the world's biggest bands.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
Verb
-
One hand hovers above her swollen belly; the other grips the tripod leg of her large-format Deardorff.—
Max Norman,
New Yorker,
13 June 2025
-
An arm with suction can grip a case or tote, pull it out, and ergonomically present it to a worker at an order selection station.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
In the pars urbana, grand villas tend to feature stately construction materials like marble; extensive mosaics and frescoes; and amenities like private baths, fountains and gardens.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
13 June 2025
-
Or, add an artificial water feature like a solar-powered fountain that is still at night or even shallow bowls of water to boost the firefly population.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
11 June 2025
Verb
-
The next decade will belong to businesses fueled by innovation and bravery, not those clinging to stability.—
Gabrielle Boko,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
-
That is, until the veteran back shot both arms out and clung to the ball with his finger tips, securing an unlikely catch for a big gain.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cradle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cradle. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share