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 Lee indulges that emotional ambiguity, the way the pedal steel can blur the distinction between a frown and a smile. — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026 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

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

Summer is usually the busiest season for shelters, officials said, as more stray animals, owner surrenders and vulnerable kittens arrive across the five boroughs.

— Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 18 July 2026
For an Astros pitching staff that surrenders the third-highest fly-ball rate of any team in the sport, this matters.

— Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026

Definition of surrenders

Verb

What surprises me, actually, is – not surprises me, but what gratifies me is that Iranian attacks have been – not been larger or more capable.

— CBS News, CBS News, 12 July 2026
By virtue of its sheer scale, everything that gratifies us about submarine cables feels amplified a hundredfold in 2Africa; the same goes for everything that worries us.

— Samanth Subramanian, The Dial, 14 Oct. 2025

Definition of gratifies

Verb

Pantani, as so often in his career, crashes and abandons the race.

— Duncan Alexander, New York Times, 24 July 2026
When Moore finally abandons the pretense and focuses in earnest on his presidential ambitions, the damage to Maryland will be incalculable and likely irreparable.

— Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2026

Definition of abandons

Verb

Ultimately, Etna’s closest bond is with the itinerant medic Hong who nurses his emaciated, shrapnel-scarred body.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
Rachel dates a shoe store operator named Lou (Bob Hoskins), while Charlotte nurses a crush on her handsome young school bus driver and flirts with Catholicism to the chagrin of her Jewish mother.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 17 July 2026

Definition of nurses

Verb

Meanwhile, across the street, The Hitch General Store delights visitors with nostalgic treats such as Goo Goo Clusters, Moon Pies, jams, honey, and classic bottled sodas.

— Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
Making an Academy Award best short shortlist delights producers.

— John Hopewell, Variety, 16 July 2026

Definition of delights

Verb

Author James Barrat argues that unpredictable, civilization changing AI development already satisfies one influential definition.

— Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
When the two storylines collide, Nolan stages a clash of A-list titans that throws the director’s usual cerebral machinations aside and instead satisfies his audience with some good old-fashion bloodlust.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026