pamper

verb

pam·​per ˈpam-pər 

pampered; pampering ˈpam-p(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to treat with extreme or excessive care and attention

pampered their guests

pamper a pet

b

: gratify, humor

enabled him to pamper his wanderlust

—New Yorker

2

archaic : to cram with rich food : glut

pamperer

ˈpam-pər-ər 

noun

Synonyms

• baby
• cocker
• coddle
• cosset
• dandle
• indulge
• mollycoddle
• nurse
• spoil
• wet-nurse

Choose the Right Synonym for pamper

indulge, pamper, humor, spoil, baby, mollycoddle mean to show undue favor to a person's desires and feelings.

indulge implies excessive compliance and weakness in gratifying another's or one's own desires.

indulged myself with food at the slightest excuse

pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect.

pampered by the amenities of modern living

humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims.

humored him by letting him tell the story

spoil stresses the injurious effects on character by indulging or pampering.

foolish parents spoil their children

baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude.

babying students by grading too easily

mollycoddle suggests an excessive degree of care and attention to another's health or welfare.

refused to mollycoddle her malingering son

Examples of pamper in a Sentence

They really pamper their guests at that hotel.

She pampered herself with a day at the spa.

He was pampered all his life and doesn't know how to function in the real world.

Recent Examples on the Web

Spending your days pampering other people can foster a deep feeling of longing to be the one being fed and massaged. —Noel Murray, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025

Learn how to tie knots from the crew, sit up front with the captain, talk shop with lecturers, pamper yourself in the spa, or enjoy the privacy of the spacious and luxurious cabins, many with private balconies and full-size soaking tubs. —Jeri Clausing, AFAR Media, 16 Dec. 2024

The athletes are already pampered with scholarships, special accommodations, special meals, etc. —Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2025

As far as spa-worthy products, grab the Austra Silk Eye Pillow to pamper yourself at home. —Isabel Garcia, People.com, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, probably of Dutch origin; akin to Dutch dialect pamperen to pamper

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

pamper

verb

pam·​per ˈpam-pər 

pampered; pampering -p(ə-)riŋ 

: to treat with too much care and attention