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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of indulging
In addition to streamlining operations and closing underperforming restaurants, Adamolekun and Red Lobster are engaging with customers and indulging their nostalgia.
—
Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
Thank you for indulging me on that.
—Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 26 May 2026
The decor offers a colorful contrast to the austere exterior, allowing the house to honor the neighborhood while indulging the whims of its occupants.
—Fred Albert, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
The charming thing is, McCartney is indulging a lot of youthful crushes in these songs.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 May 2026
Travel used to be about taking a break from that and indulging.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2026
In contrast to the first side, side two is a series of four long, moody instrumental electronic pieces, primarily Bowie and Eno indulging their darkest urges.
—Liza Lentini, SPIN, 15 May 2026
Serge, indulging his penchant for modern art, buys a large, expensive, completely white painting, with some slightly-less white lines.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 May 2026
This is a hotel with romance and celebration in mind, whether that means marking a once-in-a-lifetime occasion or indulging a lifelong love of history, art, and design.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
Thank you for indulging me on that.
—Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 26 May 2026
The decor offers a colorful contrast to the austere exterior, allowing the house to honor the neighborhood while indulging the whims of its occupants.
—Fred Albert, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
The charming thing is, McCartney is indulging a lot of youthful crushes in these songs.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 May 2026
Travel used to be about taking a break from that and indulging.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2026
In contrast to the first side, side two is a series of four long, moody instrumental electronic pieces, primarily Bowie and Eno indulging their darkest urges.
—Liza Lentini, SPIN, 15 May 2026
Serge, indulging his penchant for modern art, buys a large, expensive, completely white painting, with some slightly-less white lines.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 May 2026
This is a hotel with romance and celebration in mind, whether that means marking a once-in-a-lifetime occasion or indulging a lifelong love of history, art, and design.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indulging
Verb
-
That is, the person who chooses a gratifying activity in the present moment is correct in relation to their current desires, but wrong about their future ones.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
-
The program’s first state title would be a gratifying reward for a long climb through Stillwater’s lacrosse ranks.—
Tris Wykes,
Twin Cities,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Sirianni, 45, a hypercompetitive hothead who has conspicuously engaged with players (in Eagles and opposing jerseys), coaches (Eagles and opposing), fans (same) and officials, wants to be a mature person who can rein in his emotions, but not at the expense of surrendering his essence.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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Filling this time with meetings (or low-yield tasks) means surrendering the hours best suited for deep work and strategic thinking to reactive demands.—
Cynthia Pong,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Republicans have long held on to hope that Valadao might be able to hold on to his San Joaquin Valley district, spoiling Democratic hopes for a flip there.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
The sheets will absorb excess moisture, which will prevent your fruits and veggies spoiling quickly.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Creators Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest lend an auteur’s touch to the material, creating something that stands on its own while still bearing some of the MCU’s crowd pleasing flourishes.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
15 June 2026
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Start by picking a film that fits the season and your guests, like a crowd-pleasing summer blockbuster, a cult classic, or a vintage thriller.—
Wendy Rose Gould,
Martha Stewart,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Those hoping to attend the game described a frantic scene on social media, with some sharing stories of abandoning their rides, including shuttles and rideshares, and walking to the stadium.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
-
Build bridges without abandoning your brilliant self.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Nebraska fans with seats around the tunnel spotted them, because thousands of Nebraska fans were still in their seats, reveling, the music still thumping in the arena, as if some kind of encore would be happening.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
22 Mar. 2026
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Our friends converted their 400-person reception hall wedding into a spirited dance party at their home, with small groups of well-wishers, each small enough to fit into their bomb shelter, taking turns reveling.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Indulging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indulging. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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