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

Relevance

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

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 indulge Here are new wellness resorts and experiences launching in 2025 that are all about indulging the senses and tending to your own mental and physical wellness. —

Tanya Benedicto Klich, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024 Positioned near the far edge of the second row, not the alpha dog position that he is used to, Mr. Trump kept leaning over to speak to Mr. Obama, who smiled and indulged him in cordial chitchat. —

Peter Baker, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025 For a short time this month, the fast-food sandwich chain will offer customers a lighthearted way to indulge by putting a creative twist on its menu. —

Tabitha Parent, People.com, 9 Jan. 2025 Festivities also lit up East Asian countries including Japan, China, and the Philippines, where people in the capital of Manila flocked to the streets to sing karaoke, blow horns, and indulge with whole roasted pig, Reuters reported. —

Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 31 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for indulge

Recent Examples of Synonyms for indulge

Verb

The Voice could not pay him for the first several years but the exposure was gratifying.

— Elaine Woo, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025
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