indulge

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 Rather than indulging delusions of European autonomy, Poland has solidified its partnership with the U.S., hosting American troops, covering its costs based on a unique Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and advocating for NATO's reinforcement on its eastern flank. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025 For those who like to indulge, the in-room mini bar offers a diverse selection of beverages, including the Seychelles' national spirit: Takamaka rum. Jason Chau, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2025 Wedding photos are taken while the groom indulges a major secret. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2025 The overall vibe is reminiscent of a CBS sitcom featuring an older, curmudgeonly husband who has no choice but to indulge his younger wife. Meredith Blake, Boston Herald, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for indulge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indulge
Verb
  • Why catharsis doesn’t work Kicking the crap out of a punching bag or unleashing a rant might feel gratifying in the moment.
    Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 21 Mar. 2025
  • So, if not a gratifying ending where everyone lives happily ever after and the villains get clobbered, then what?
    Brian Grubb, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • On Thursday, Ehrlich surrendered himself to authorities at the Lakewood Township Police headquarters before being transported to Ocean County Jail, where he’s currently being held, according to prosecutor Bradley Billhimer.
    Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Eight others have had their certifications temporarily suspended, and three officers voluntarily surrendered their licenses.
    Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Dodge won't spoil the surprise by confirming if the last one will be based on the Charger or the Challenger (or maybe both), but the evidence suggests the latter is more likely.
    Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 13 Feb. 2023
  • Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.
    Monica Mark, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Feb. 2023
Verb
  • Right here, inches from our noses, are observations, memories, and relationships—people to please—that can generate the kind of richness that Brainard brings to his work.
    David S. Wallace, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2025
  • My dad was going to engineering school at Columbia [to please] his father.
    Eric Ryan, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Iran later abandoned provisions of the JCPOA and forged ahead with its nuclear program.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2025
  • The administration’s decision to abandon plans to move D.C.’s elite fighter jet squadron to Maryland comes months after the state’s congressional delegation and Gov. Wes Moore (D) worked to secure the planes to prevent the state from losing its flying mission.
    Meagan Flynn, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • After recovering from Hurricane Helene, the opulent, castle-like inn is back to pampering guests at every turn.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Despite the luxury and pampering the resort has to offer, the true highlight of Platte Island is the Indian Ocean itself.
    Jason Chau, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • There's the twangy Ratliff family − Timothy (Jason Isaacs), Victoria (Parker Posey), Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lachlan (Sam Nivola) − a North Carolinian dynasty humoring their daughter's interest in Buddhism.
    Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
  • But a missing pearl earring sends her down a conspiracy rabbit hole, which is only made deeper by her shop-teacher co-worker Dave Delgado (Gael García Bernal), who has eyes for her, humoring her every whim.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • That explanation has failed to satisfy Democrats who say that plans for imminent military strikes are regularly classified.
    David Klepper, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2025
  • One of the requirements to satisfy the banks into loaning Arsenal the money was a commitment for Wenger to stay for five years.
    Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Indulge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indulge. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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