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 duo — pals from boarding school and later Harvard — wanted to write a movie about Bourdain, but didn’t want a cradle to grave story. — Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026 That motor sits on a double cradle matrix frame made from tubular steel. — New Atlas, 8 Aug. 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
  • The district encompasses an increasingly Democratic-leaning Omaha metro area of 1 million-plus and its more conservative suburbs — famous for steaks and the Reuben sandwich’s birthplace, though New York disputes that.
    — Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The district encompasses an increasingly Democratic-leaning Omaha metro area of 1 million-plus and its more conservative suburbs — famous for steaks and the Reuben sandwich's birthplace, though New York disputes that.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of birthplace
Noun
  • Anna Watson’s lighting keeps much of the house just dim enough to make the imagination dangerous, while Tony winner Gareth Fry’s sound design surrounds the audience with ominous noises whose sources aren’t always immediately clear.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Amazon also looked to capitalize on the demand for AI training by marketing MTurk as a data annotation source for its SageMaker service.
    — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of source
Verb
  • CFMoto Stopping duties come courtesy of Brembo, featuring dual 320-mm front discs clamped by radial four-piston calipers and backed by a 260-mm rear disc.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Simply clamp the Smart Jumper Cables with the mini flashlight directly onto the vehicle battery terminals and let the powerful 29600mWh (8000mAh) 4-cell, high-grade lithium-polymer battery do the work.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 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
  • Mosquito traps have now been installed at the airport, Fraport said, adding that the mosquitos captured will be genetically analyzed by the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, to determine their species and origin.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Fans of Waterbird Coffee were without their downtown Kansas City spot for just a few months before new owners strode in — single origin beans in hand — to save it.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of origin
Verb
  • It's got two arms with claws that can grip things and lift a couple of pounds each, and uses LiDAR and cameras to help get around your home.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The Mercyenforcer grips the handle of his light in his bare hand to look into my other eye.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • Winner had a choice Johnson lives in Goldston and has taught middle school for about 20 years.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The couple's home is near the former San Francisco Art Institute, where prominent sculptor Ralph Stackpole taught for decades — leading Gittelsohn to believe the piece may have a connection to him or one of his students.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of teach
Noun
  • Behind the fountain, the buildings will lock audiences into the story’s location.
    — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The entry courtyard’s smooth pavers and circular fountain complement the stark, contemporary lines of the dark-sided facade.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cradle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cradle

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