Dote
v.kind, joyfulwarm
What it means
Show someone abundant fondness and attentive affection.
Reach for it when describing warm, visible love that may verge on indulgence
The neighbors dote on the elderly terrier and save him a sunny chair.
Choose between these
6- playful
pamper
when comfort and indulgent treats are the visible actions
not when Pampering can happen without deep affection and may undermine independence.
- everyday
fuss over
when repeated attention is affectionate but slightly excessive
not when Fussing can arise from anxiety and may annoy the recipient.
- warm
when intense love is the inner feeling
not when Adoration need not appear in repeated attentive behavior.
- warm
when someone's value matters more than attentive behavior
not when Treasuring does not carry the active indulgence of doting.
- formal
lavish affection on
when abundant displays of love need explicit wording
not when The phrase is too elaborate for casual family speech.
- literary
when careful, enduring valuing is central
not when Cherishing is quieter and less indulgent than doting.
Said against
3- neglect
- ignore
- dislike
It naturally appears in
3- dote on
The older cousins dote on the baby without competing for her attention.
- dote upon
Both grandfathers dote upon the child in their different ways.
- parents dote
The foster parents dote while still encouraging new independence.
The word family
1Where this comes from
- Wiktionary, English verb: show excessive fondness opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.