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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 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 While other confederation presidents often indulge Infantino, Ceferin skipped the entirety of the Club World Cup. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 31 July 2026 Night Seven indulged Bon Jovi’s love for sports, with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and tennis legend John McEnroe mingling backstage. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for indulge

Recent Examples of Synonyms for indulge

Verb

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
Although Roberts is presumably gratified, too, history’s little joke is that the President currently enjoying this generous new interpretation of his powers is surely not the mannerly, norm-abiding Republican Roberts had in mind decades ago.

— Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of gratify

Verb

There were surrendered leads against Chelsea in the 2008-09 FA Cup final and, perhaps more galling, against a weaker-than-usual Liverpool side in a 2011-12 FA Cup semi-final.

— Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Goss voluntarily relinquished his Missouri law license and surrendered his right to practice law in Kansas.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of surrender

Verb

Cloud Residence spoils you even further with one pool on the terrace and another pool and a hot tub on its roof.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
The seeming confirmation that Cyberleek has a full build, likely from 2025, opens the door to the possibility that the story of GTA VI could start being spoiled.

— Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of spoil

Verb

That’s why this list includes both heavy, high fill powers and light inserts that will please even the hottest sleepers.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 Aug. 2026
Wrestlers having legitimate issues backstage has led to multiple feuds that people-pleasing AEW President Tony Khan could not control.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of please

Verb

Financing expires, talent moves on, and production slates are abandoned.

— Jack Dunn, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
At an event overflowing with seven-figure hypercars and extreme technology, the car that exploded onto social media was one built around ideas that most of the industry has abandoned.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of abandon

Verb

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
Luxury hotels in Miami are competing to pamper guests’ dogs with gourmet menus, spa treatments and canine concierges.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 8 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

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“Indulge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indulge. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of indulge

verb

Synonym Chooser

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'Decadent': Luxury or Decay?

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