INDULGES Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

indulges

verb

present tense third-person singular of indulge

as in pleases

to give in to (a desire) the grandparents indulged the child's wishes to an extent that they never did with their own children

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in surrenders

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

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as in spoils

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

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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 indulges Chris is a freelance journalist who, when not writing, skywatching, playing games or building Lego, indulges his taste for horror, sci-fi and the post-apocalyptic. — Chris McMullen, Space.com, 24 June 2026 But instead of paranoia, Spielberg indulges openness. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 June 2026 The novel indulges only the latter, lesser instinct. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 May 2026 But there are limits to how much Jim Gines mentally indulges the war. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 24 May 2026 Koreeda goes to interesting places with his premise, refusing the Bad Seed route that an AI child might invite — instead, the director indulges the possibility that Kakeru can be good for the Komotos, especially for Kensuke. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 May 2026 Teleportation indulges me due to time efficiency, being able to travel anywhere without cost, and just the experience of being anywhere as soon as someone needs me. — Rick Cantu, Austin American Statesman, 7 Apr. 2026 Her girlfriend — a writer who understands the emotional and mental demands of creating — indulges her interests. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026 Evolution occasionally indulges us with organisms that seem too cool or too scary to be true, like something out of a science fiction film. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for indulges

Verb

Coastal decor darling Serena & Lily brings you the Pacifica modular collection to suit any configuration that pleases you.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026
For something more substantial, Ramsey’s pleases both vegetarians and meat eaters with options such as BBQ brisket sandwich with homemade onion straws or Zucchini Noodle Thai Bowl.

— Sarah Miller, Midwest Living, 29 Apr. 2026

Definition of pleases

Verb

Watch On After losing their son, Gaku (Kengo Kora), in battle, the Tawara family blends back into modern Japanese life and abandons their nights-and-weekends ninja mayhem.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 10 July 2026
In Red Sheet, which is set, like most of his novels, in mid-century Los Angeles, Ellroy abandons the three-character structure in favor of a single narrative voice that clamps down hard.

— Carolyn Kellogg, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Definition of abandons

Verb

After Robin is gravely injured, he is taken in by the sage prioress Brigid (Jodie Comer), who nurses him back to health at an island convent.

— Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Her father — struggling with poverty and the grief over his wife's death — wants to shoot it, but Jessica secretly nurses the animal back to health, bringing her closer to her father in the process.

— Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 25 Nov. 2025