neotenize

English

Verb

neotenize (third-person singular simple present neotenizes, present participle neotenizing, simple past and past participle neotenized)

1. (transitive) To regard (an adult person or animal) as a child; to infantilize.
   • 1992, The Covenant of the Wild: Why Animals Chose Domestication:

     Among the explanations for why we in Western culture, and particularly contemporary American society, neotenize our animals as we do is our need to gain a sense of control over them.

Related terms

• neotenous
• neoteny