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 club retired the cradle of Louis XIV from its badge—a symbol of Saint-Germain as a suburban town 20 kilometers outside Paris, where the kings once lived. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 June 2026 In 2026, with global biodiversity in mortal danger, the Galápagos aren’t just a cradle of incredible variation. — Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 26 June 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 Defying rigid architecture, the home’s interior features free-flowing lines and curves that cradle a freestanding soaking tub, sculptural walk-in shower, fireplace, and spacious beds. — Kristin Braswell, Architectural Digest, 29 Apr. 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
  • One of the best-preserved is Motovun, the birthplace of race car driver Mario Andretti.
    — Tia Lovisa Moreira, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
  • His core philosophy rejects repetitive collections, instead championing constant reinvention and diversity, deeply rooted in his birthplace.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of birthplace
Noun
  • The source claimed that the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star checked into the facility voluntarily.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026
  • Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are expected to take over Madison Square Garden for two events celebrating their wedding, ABC News and CNN reported on June 30, citing sources familiar with the plans.
    — Charlie Carballo, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of source
Verb
  • Firefighters quickly tended to mother and baby, clamping and cutting the umbilical cord, and both were transported in stable condition to the hospital.
    — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • With the SRBs securely clamped to the launch pad, SLS hangs in the center between them, held up only by the strength of the interstage bolts at their connection points.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 1 July 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
  • The census ancestry and origin data are estimates based on a sample of the population and include margins of error that can be large for small population groups.
    — Albert Sun, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • Understanding the origin of life requires addressing a collection of overlapping scientific questions.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026
Definition of origin
Verb
  • The body politic wages war against itself in Shakespeare’s tragedy, and the all-out battle makes for a gripping spectacle in Griffith Park.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Button Gwinnett didn’t want to be in Philadelphia for the Second Continental Congress in the summer of 1776, and not just because a heat wave gripped the city and delegates dressed in wool and powdered wigs.
    — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • The state’s Holocaust Education Bill, passed in 1994, requires every school district to teach the Holocaust with the explicit aim of building tolerance, nurturing democratic values, and confronting what indifference produces.
    — Masha Pearl, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026
  • Lyons taught in the island elementary school for more than 20 years, until there were no more students to teach.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of teach
Noun
  • The refurbishment of Freedom Plaza was part of the administration’s beautification projects, which included repairing fountains in the district and renovating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026
  • Bowser, who declined to be interviewed for this article, urged the administration to clean up federal parks and fix broken fountains, while pushing back on measures like having police ask for people’s immigration status.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of fountain

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Cradle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cradle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cradle

Nglish: Translation of cradle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cradle

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