Synonyms of indulging

indulging

verb

present participle of indulge

1

as in humoring

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

• humoring
• gratifying
• pleasing
• spoiling
• catering (to)
• reveling
• delighting
• satisfying
• basking
• luxuriating
• pampering
• wallowing
• coddling
• pleasuring
• mollycoddling
• satiating
• sating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• checking
• curbing
• restraining
• inhibiting
• stifling
• constraining
• bridling

2

as in surrendering

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

• surrendering
• abandoning
• yielding
• delivering
• reveling
• giving up
• overdoing
• overindulging
• basking
• wallowing
• luxuriating
• rolling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• denying
• eschewing
• checking
• restraining
• refraining (from)
• forgoing
• abstaining (from)
• inhibiting
• forbearing

3

as in spoiling

to treat with great or excessive care

you indulge those grandkids in ways you never did with your own kids

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spoiling
• pampering
• nursing
• pleasing
• satisfying
• coddling
• babying
• appeasing
• mollycoddling
• delighting
• cosseting
• dandling
• humoring
• mothering
• cockering
• contenting
• gratifying
• obliging
• wet-nursing
• catering (to)
• placating
• soothing
• gladdening
• pacifying
• mollifying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abusing
• controlling
• misusing
• restraining
• mistreating
• manhandling
• disciplining
• mishandling
• maltreating
• neglecting
• oppressing
• violating
• ill-treating
• overlooking
• ill-using
• slighting
• molesting
• harassing
• torturing
• hurting
• tormenting
• harming
• outraging
• injuring
• persecuting
• victimizing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of indulging

Remmick, Jimmy Crystal and Larry Lamb share an unrelenting desire to entertain, whether performing music outside a juke joint, indulging amusement with graphic violence or delighting the British reading public with scandal and drama. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Whether the race ever happens, the idea is pure Shaq, a celebrity who's renowned for indulging his passions, of which cars are near the top of the list. — Terry Baddoo, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026

Here was a doctor borrowing the language of a fast food brand while encouraging people not to fear indulging. — Karin Eldor, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Bardstown Bourbon Company, which is well known for indulging its experimental impulses, decided to blend together bourbon and rye and finish it in pineapple rum barrels with pieces of pineapple added to the whiskey for good measure. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2026

On that note, resist the urge to bury discomfort by indulging, shopping or being stubbornly silent. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026

Will blamed Cal for the idea; Cal, Will for indulging it; both of them the other for not being the one dead. — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

Chronicle is one of the best superhero movies of the modern era, subverting many of the genre’s tropes and character types while indulging the right amount of camp and spectacle (and all under 90 minutes). — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026

But the servers and butlers certainly step up and can be seen indulging young guests, giving parents the chance to dine uninterrupted. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026