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 Dickinson’s willingness to indulge these detours made the record his most fun, strange and diverse solo project yet. Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025 At one point Wednesday, the judge indulged their request to meet with Adelson and the attorneys at a side bar out of the public’s earshot. Lauren Del Valle, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025 And, heck, even Friday, particularly with Travis Kelce indulging and inciting fans at Neo Quimica Arena with dance moves during warmups before the Chiefs took on the Los Angeles Chargers. Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025 The falling soufflé as a symbol of the crumbling hotel is the kind of heavy-handed touch Solnicki rarely indulges. Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for indulge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indulge
Verb
  • Chinn is gratified that Chan’s nonprofit is bringing visibility to such a critical time in history.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Vance added that he's gratified by hearing calls for unity and condolences from Democratic friends and colleagues.
    Erin Glynn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Authorities have not yet revealed the full details of how Robinson was detained, but multiple reports suggested that his father urged him to surrender after recognizing his son in the grainy surveillance footage released by police.
    Richard Hall, Time, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Once Bailey reached home, the official completion of a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning, Bailey surrendered himself to the moment.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Despite Alfred and Jefferson-Wooden being the clear favorites for gold in the 100-meter dash, there are a few others besides Fraser-Pryce who could spoil the party.
    Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Instead, the couple is content to spoil their dog, Bimini, a mini Labradoodle whom Berk first introduced on his Instagram in 2021.
    Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Motivated largely by his desire to please his dead father, who bullied him into believing that toughness is the essence of manhood, Cade insists on pushing past his injury and pursuing his dream.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Golden retrievers, while intelligent and eager to please, are more commonly found retrieving game, assisting as service animals, or acting as family companions.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Tesla was taken to Hollywood Tow after a person reported that it had been abandoned, NBC Los Angeles previously reported.
    Andrew Blankstein, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The city finally towed the sedan after a citizen complained that the car had been abandoned for more than 72 hours.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • They will also be pampered in a variety of opulent living areas including movie theater, gym.
    Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Yet the train of military vehicles that appeared was remarkably tame, a cavalcade of superannuated weapons platforms serving as a reminder of the degree to which the military-industrial complex, glutted with money and pampered by Congress, has run out of new ideas.
    Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The actor then humored the crowd with an impression of the old Hollywood mogul recounting his pursuits of a beautiful woman in the Paramount commissary.
    Andrew McGowan, Variety, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Colum scoffs at her offer, claiming that their father only humored Ellen.
    Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • As a former investment banker at JPMorgan in London, he was dismayed with the lack of late-night delivery options that could satisfy his appetite working 100-hour weeks.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Consider the health plan that implements comprehensive provider data accuracy not to satisfy regulators, but to enable predictive network optimization.
    Tammy Hawes, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Indulge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indulge. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

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