Synonym Chooser

How does the verb pamper contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pamper are baby, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, and spoil. While all these words mean "to show undue favor to a person's desires and feelings," pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect.

pampered by the amenities of modern living

When is baby a more appropriate choice than pamper?

The meanings of baby and pamper largely overlap; however, baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude.

babying students by grading too easily

Where would humor be a reasonable alternative to pamper?

While the synonyms humor and pamper are close in meaning, humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims.

humored him by letting him tell the story

When can indulge be used instead of pamper?

While in some cases nearly identical to pamper, indulge implies excessive compliance and weakness in gratifying another's or one's own desires.

indulged myself with food at the slightest excuse

When might mollycoddle be a better fit than pamper?

Although the words mollycoddle and pamper have much in common, 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 spoil instead of pamper?

The synonyms spoil and pamper are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 pamper Bonus Note: Travel with your beloved pooch and the pet-friendly Palace will pamper them with their own dog bed and goodies. John Oseid, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024 This bestseller from Burt’s Bees features travel-friendly minis that’ll pamper anyone on your list. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 18 Dec. 2024 Meanwhile, fun finds like Cool Maker Go Glam Nail Studio are perfect for kids who want to pamper themselves and are only $13 right now. Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 29 Nov. 2024 Also not to be missed: the extensive salumi menu at the property’s Domenica restaurant, plus a bit of pampering at the Waldorf Astoria Spa (complete with a glass of welcome Champagne). Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pamper 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pamper
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
  • 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
Verb
  • Even though Calais Campbell is nursing a neck injury that surfaced on Friday, the Miami Dolphins defensive lineman has 300,000 reasons to play in Sunday’s regular season finale against the New York Jets.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 5 Jan. 2025
  • In the wild, baby spider monkeys are nursed by their mother for the first two years of their life, said California Department of Fish and Wildlife Capt.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near pamper

Cite this Entry

“Pamper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pamper. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on pamper

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