indulge

indulge

verb

Definition of INDULGE

1

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 cater (to), gratify, humor

Related Words bask, luxuriate, revel, wallow; coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil; delight, please, pleasure; sate, satiate, satisfy

Near Antonyms bridle, check, constrain, curb, inhibit, restrain, stifle

2

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 deliver, give up, indulge, surrender, yield

Related Words overdo, overindulge; bask, luxuriate, revel, roll, wallow

Near Antonyms abstain (from), eschew, forbear, forgo (also forego), refrain (from); check, inhibit, restrain

Antonyms deny

3

to treat with great or excessive care <you indulge those grandkids in ways you never did with your own kids>

Synonyms cocker, coddle, cosset, dandle, indulge, mollycoddle, nurse, pamper, spoil, wet-nurse

Related Words cater (to), humor; content, delight, gladden, gratify, mother, oblige, please, satisfy; appease, mollify, pacify, placate, soothe

Near Antonyms control, discipline, restrain; oppress; neglect, overlook, slight; molest, outrage, violate; harass, harm, hurt, injure, oppress, persecute, torment, torture, victimize

Antonyms abuse, ill-treat, ill-use, maltreat, manhandle, mishandle, mistreat, misuse