cradle 1 of 2

noun

ˈkrā-dᵊl How to pronounce cradle (audio)
Definition of cradlenext
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

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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

cradle

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to clamp

Related Words
2
as in to mother

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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
Noun
The former lawyer did more than think about the cradle of Western Civilization. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026 Its stern reportedly contains a wet well-deck and a large cradle that can be lowered into the water using 12 vertical jack-up arms. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
On the wall, a neon sculpture of blue hands cradling a yellow heart framed by the spiky rays of a blue agave plant (Milagro’s icon) seemed to capture the spirit of the evening. — Sari Kamin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 June 2026 Julian loved this on the pricier Humanscale Freedom, which felt like someone was cradling his body. — Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cradle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cradle
  1. birthplace
  2. source
  3. clamp
  4. mother
  5. origin
  6. grip
  7. teach
  8. fountain
Noun
  • Located in Oakbrook Center, the new space pays homage to the couturier-perfumer’s birthplace with a fragrance discovery experience that’s anchored by a selection of one-of-a-kind olfactory silhouettes named La Collection Privée Christian Dior.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Almost no filming happens here in California, which is the birthplace of the business.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of birthplace
Noun
  • According to four people familiar with the situation, the podcast has been a particular source of friction between Thompson and Goldberg.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Yet without fully mature local ecosystems, Southeast Asian factories source inputs from China to keep production running.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of source
Verb
  • This buys her team more time to clamp the safeguard pipe, effectively saving the silo from extinction.
    — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Mechanics can easily calibrate and adjust system tension using an integrated clamping piece, ensuring consistent mechanical support throughout long operational cycles.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of clamp
Verb
  • The new cub's arrival marks the first time Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium has had a lion birth since July 2020, when lioness Abana mothered three cubs.
    — Finch Walker, USA Today, 17 June 2026
  • Virginia Dulles was the opposite of Louanne Bixby—even a hundred children couldn’t exhaust her need to mother them.
    — Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Definition of mother
Noun
  • Its origin is as a thalassotherapy spa, and indeed the jet sprays and salt water baths with water straight from the Mediterranean are both invigorating and restorative.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In 2024, the sound of camel bells across the desert led visitors back to the Yellow River basin, introducing Songmont’s origins and roots.
    — Footwear News, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of origin
Verb
  • Paris — Students fought running battles with police and several schools were ablaze Friday as a new day of violence gripped France with no end in sight to protests that have rocked the country.
    — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Secondly, as markets remain gripped by concerns around long-term public debt and fiscal sustainability globally, Gower acknowledged that higher bond yields remain a challenge for non-yielding assets like gold.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • At the academy, cadets are taught to envision every interaction as a life-threatening confrontation.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The company also said owners can teach the robot to load a dishwasher and clear a cat litter box.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of teach
Noun
  • Adell hit a no-doubt 440-foot shot into the left-center fountains off Royals starter Daniel Lynch IV, effectively knocking Lynch from the game.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Lourdes water is free to access from the sanctuary’s taps and drinking fountains.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of fountain

Browse Nearby Words

crack wise
cradle
cradled
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Cite this Entry

“Cradle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cradle. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cradle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cradle

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