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

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

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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

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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 Whether the race ever happens, the idea is pure Shaq, a celebrity who's renowned for indulging his passions, of which cars are near the top of the list. — Terry Baddoo, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026 In Salzburg, Dudamel indulged the Vienna Philharmonic’s incomparable lushness, those plush strings, glowing winds, golden brass, voluminous timpani. — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026 Sure, the Russo brothers lay on the quips and fan service a little thick, but after 11 years and 21 movies, they’re allowed to indulge. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026 Bardstown Bourbon Company, which is well known for indulging its experimental impulses, decided to blend together bourbon and rye and finish it in pineapple rum barrels with pieces of pineapple added to the whiskey for good measure. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for indulge

Recent Examples of Synonyms for indulge

Verb

In gratifying the left, the Warren Court debilitated the long tradition of opposing judicial supremacy.

— Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
What’s most exciting or gratifying for you about this project, and having these programs include ASL now?

— Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of gratify

Verb

Paul Skenes, last year’s NL Cy Young Award winner, lasted all of 4 2/3 innings, having surrendered five runs on eight hits.

— Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
When the Blakes want the third iteration of their teenage son Geoff, young Nathan Donovan must surrender his mind for another’s—but the transfer fails, leaving both consciousnesses fighting for their survival.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of surrender

Verb

Ask For An Upgrade Moreso than most other vacation stays, all-inclusive resorts exist to pamper their guests.

— Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2026
The vintage architecture of the 130-year-old hotel is a pastiche of Gothic Revival turrets and arches, a stone castle masquerading as what is arguably the world's most luxurious and pampering ski hotel.

— Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of pamper

Verb

Difficult material, yes—but somehow Sandler injects snap and humor into these pages, whether they’re set at the welfare office or on the road in the Dominican Republic, making this a true pleasure to read.

— Nicholas Boggs, The Atlantic, 22 Apr. 2026
Just as the story mines humor from the collision of old-fashioned ways with a modern frankness, Paul’s score combines the appeal of jaunty golden-age sounds with a freshness that feels present day.

— Naveen Kumar, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026

Definition of humor

Verb

Developers must also satisfy nuclear cybersecurity rules, Department of War authorization requirements and protections for operational technology and industrial control systems.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
The kind of dessert that satisfies your craving, but doesn’t taste too sickly sweet.

— George Yang, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of satisfy

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indulge

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“Indulge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indulge. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of indulge

verb

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Synonyms of indulge

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to indulge

'Decadent': Luxury or Decay?

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