1
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
2
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
3
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of indulge
The costars are coy about the finality of their deaths but are willing to indulge the hope that the Roses smell the gas and escape.
—
Erin Jensen, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
The movie, to my eyes, badly miscalculates the ratio of paradise to despoilment, indulging the latter at the expense of the former.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
And, of course, Lego fans have long been able indulge their love of Disney characters, too.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 25 Aug. 2025
On the way back to her workstation after the 0830 all clear, Masako indulged this innocent conceit by regaling some of her Kenjo coworkers with a claim about her father’s apparently magical ability to protect himself and his family from American bombs.
—Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for indulge
Erin Jensen, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
The movie, to my eyes, badly miscalculates the ratio of paradise to despoilment, indulging the latter at the expense of the former.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
And, of course, Lego fans have long been able indulge their love of Disney characters, too.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 25 Aug. 2025
On the way back to her workstation after the 0830 all clear, Masako indulged this innocent conceit by regaling some of her Kenjo coworkers with a claim about her father’s apparently magical ability to protect himself and his family from American bombs.
—Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for indulge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indulge
Verb
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So it's been a strange but really gratifying thing.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
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Benson was gratified that a buyer picked up one of his pieces for a gift.—
Linda Girardi,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But on a day when Mizzou amassed 595 total yards, converted 4 of 5 fourth downs and got an excellent effort from first-year starting quarterback Beau Pribula, surrendering possession had to fill Kansas followers with a sense of dread.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
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After allowing 18 chunk plays against Appalachian State, Charlotte surrendered just eight on Saturday night.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Holding on for a win on Saturday finally allowed the Padres to gain a game in the NL West on the on Dodgers, who lost a fifth straight when the Orioles spoiled a no-hitter with two outs and ultimately walked off a win.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
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Besides, if one bad apple can spoil the whole barrel, then just imagine the good that Maria could do by removing it from the rest of the bunch.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Get the recipe > Creamy, cheesy, and satisfying, this dip is sure to please at your next late-summer get together.—
SAVEUR Editors,
Saveur,
4 Sep. 2025
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Film studios have long struggled to make adaptations of video games that please critics and audiences, and some critics have suggested video games are tough to adapt because the sheer volume of gaming content has to be condensed to fit the length of a movie.—
Conor Murray,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Needless to say, progressive Democrats did not respond to those companies’ overtures by abandoning Trader Joe’s and prosecco to guzzle Buds at Wally World.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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The Commission was also unimpressed by Jackson continuing to promote SPIS’ data around the location on the pitch and timing of Paqueta’s bookings during the game during cross-examination, despite the fact that the FA had abandoned this evidence.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Guests can sample new products, attend workshops, enjoy fashion shows or get pampered with on-the-spot makeovers.—
Tiffani Jackson Skinner,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
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The feel of the hot desert air against my skin; being scrubbed, rubbed and pampered during my first hammam.—
Alysia Reiner,
Flow Space,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The actor then humored the crowd with an impression of the old Hollywood mogul recounting his pursuits of a beautiful woman in the Paramount commissary.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
16 Aug. 2025
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Colum scoffs at her offer, claiming that their father only humored Ellen.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Dancing alone in her bedroom won’t satisfy her, especially after Hollywood claims her for a dance competition slash reality TV show.—
Eliana Ramage
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
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His Coconut Grove home, as well as his wages as a city commissioner, have both been protected by the courts and cannot be collected to satisfy the judgment.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Indulge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indulge. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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