INDULGE Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'indulge' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of indulge are baby , humor , mollycoddle , pamper , and spoil . While all these words 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

Q: Where would 'baby' be a reasonable alternative to 'indulge'?

While in some cases nearly identical to indulge , baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude. // babying students by grading too easily

Q: When could 'humor' be used to replace 'indulge'?

The words humor and indulge can be used in similar contexts, but humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims. // humored him by letting him tell the story

Q: When would 'mollycoddle' be a good substitute for 'indulge'?

While the synonyms mollycoddle and indulge are close in meaning, mollycoddle suggests an excessive degree of care and attention to another's health or welfare. // refused to mollycoddle her malingering son

Q: When is it sensible to use 'pamper' instead of 'indulge'?

The words pamper and indulge are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect. // pampered by the amenities of modern living

Q: When can 'spoil' be used instead of 'indulge'?

In some situations, the words spoil and indulge are roughly equivalent. However, spoil stresses the injurious effects on character by indulging or pampering. // foolish parents spoil their children

indulge

verb

in-ˈdəlj

Definition of indulge next

as in to gratify

to give in to (a desire) the grandparents indulged the child's wishes to an extent that they never did with their own children

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to surrender

to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly conventioneers who were obviously eager to indulge themselves in all of the vices that Las Vegas might offer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to spoil

to treat with great or excessive care you indulge those grandkids in ways you never did with your own kids

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb indulge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of indulge are baby, humor, mollycoddle, pamper, and spoil. While all these words 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

Where would baby be a reasonable alternative to indulge?

While in some cases nearly identical to indulge, baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude.

babying students by grading too easily

When could humor be used to replace indulge?

The words humor and indulge can be used in similar contexts, but humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims.

humored him by letting him tell the story

When would mollycoddle be a good substitute for indulge?

While the synonyms mollycoddle and indulge are close in meaning, mollycoddle suggests an excessive degree of care and attention to another's health or welfare.

refused to mollycoddle her malingering son

When is it sensible to use pamper instead of indulge?

The words pamper and indulge are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect.

pampered by the amenities of modern living

When can spoil be used instead of indulge?

In some situations, the words spoil and indulge are roughly equivalent. However, spoil stresses the injurious effects on character by indulging or pampering.

foolish parents spoil their children

Examples 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 indulge In 1776, for example, Gen. George Washington won his first victory in the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Trenton, by sneaking his troops across the Delaware River on Christmas night and deploying a surprise attack on Hessian troops, German mercenaries who had indulged during the holiday. —

Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 15 Dec. 2024 Venus in Aquarius is also dazzling your second house of self-confidence, encouraging you to indulge a little, so treat yourself to something luxurious. —

Valerie Mesa, People.com, 31 Dec. 2024 Winter calls for cozy cashmere pieces, and for all of those who want to indulge this season, here’s an edit of womenswear pieces in neutral hues, which, as Aman Essentials says, celebrates nature’s simplicity and purity. —

Felicity Carter, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024 Enter Samuel with a pocketful of dog treats and an enthusiasm for indulging Romy’s desire to be dominated, and Romy is free-falling into a potentially destructive affair. —

Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 28 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for indulge

Recent Examples of Synonyms for indulge

Verb

And Louisville, which was nowhere to be found in that first Bracket Watch but, in what must be a gratifying Pat Kelsey debut season for Cards fans, would be firmly entrenched if the field were announced today.

— Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
And the first movie was recognized by the WGA, and I was gratified by that.

— Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 27 Dec. 2024