pamper

verb

pam·​per ˈpam-pər 

pampered; pampering ˈpam-p(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to treat with extreme or excessive care and attention

pampered their guests

pamper a pet

b

: gratify, humor

enabled him to pamper his wanderlust

—New Yorker

2

archaic : to cram with rich food : glut

pamperer

ˈpam-pər-ər 

noun

Synonyms

• spoil
• indulge
• nurse

Choose the Right Synonym for pamper

indulge, pamper, humor, spoil, baby, mollycoddle 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

pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect.

pampered by the amenities of modern living

humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims.

humored him by letting him tell the story

spoil stresses the injurious effects on character by indulging or pampering.

foolish parents spoil their children

baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude.

babying students by grading too easily

mollycoddle suggests an excessive degree of care and attention to another's health or welfare.

refused to mollycoddle her malingering son

Examples of pamper in a Sentence

They really pamper their guests at that hotel.

She pampered herself with a day at the spa.

He was pampered all his life and doesn't know how to function in the real world.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hydration is key to more youthful-looking skin, and taking a little bit of time out of your evening to pamper yourself with a hydrating cream can do wonders the next morning. —Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025

Infused with the brand’s signature scent—a warm, sophisticated blend of amber, musk, and florals—this shampoo not only cleanses but also pampers the senses. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, probably of Dutch origin; akin to Dutch dialect pamperen to pamper

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for pamper

• camper
• damper
• hamper
• scamper
• stamper
• tamper

Kids Definition

pamper

verb

pam·​per ˈpam-pər 

pampered; pampering -p(ə-)riŋ 

: to treat with too much care and attention