cocooning

noun

co·​coon·​ing kə-ˈkü-niŋ How to pronounce cocooning (audio)
Synonyms of cocooningnext
: the practice of spending leisure time at home in preference to going out

Examples of cocooning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Some of the larger suites have modern four-posters; those that are smaller feel cocooning and cozy. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 The home is impeccably comfortable, equipped with a cocooning swivel chair to take in views of the bay plus a fireplace for snug evenings on the sofa. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2026 The cocooning experience of infrared bed therapy uses red and infrared light to support skin health and reduce inflammation. — Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 There was also a scuba aesthetic that continued from last season with honkering inflatable coats, cocooning anoraks, and neoprene blazers nipped at the waist that looked like couture life vests and scuba suits. — Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cocooning

Word History

First Known Use

1986, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cocooning was in 1986

Rhymes for cocooning

See All Rhymes for cocooning

Browse Nearby Words

cocoonery
cocooning
Cocopa
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cocooning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cocooning. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on cocooning

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cocooning

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All