pamper

verb

ˈpam-pər How to pronounce pamper (audio)
Definition of pampernext
as in to spoil
to treat with great or excessive care pamper a sick child

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 pamper They should not be pampered more; they should be pushed more. —Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026 The formula is packed with hydrating and moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, camellia oil, and ceramides to pamper dry skin types, leaving the skin velvety soft and clean—never greasy—after rinsing. —Emily Orofino, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2026 In Paris, every self-pampering detail—naturellement—is honed to perfection. —Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 12 Feb. 2026 One way to do so is to pamper that person as much as possible. —Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pamper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pamper
  1. spoil
  2. indulge
  3. nurse
Verb
  • Russo places a few dry paper towels in the bag to absorb excess moisture and prevent spoiling.
    — Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Choosing among loud, louder and loudest shirts, then contemplating whether to go with jorts or florts (don’t ask) and selecting the appropriate socks and crocs, Black finally is ready to go until Sarah Sherman shows up to spoil things.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of spoil
Verb
  • Being gentle with yourself is a form of bravery, so go ahead and indulge your softer side.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Her girlfriend — a writer who understands the emotional and mental demands of creating — indulges her interests.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of indulge
Verb
  • Vientos manned first base Thursday with Jorge Polanco still nursing a sore Achilles tendon.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Wiseman was married to nurse Carroll Taylor, who died of cancer in 2020.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of nurse

Browse Nearby Words

pampas
pamper
pampered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pamper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pamper. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pamper

Nglish: Translation of pamper for Spanish Speakers

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