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
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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
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Recent Examples of indulging
What’s gained by indulging our doom?
—
Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
But Septime Webre’s choreography is supposed to have the air of wild and sometimes frenzied social dancing, of Charlestons and Fox Trots and Black Bottoms, of indulging the glorious excesses of the 1920s before the greedier side of the American Dream comes crashing down a few years later.
—David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Oct. 2025
The other people Ye tries to big-foot into indulging his perverse Peter Pan complex fare more poorly.
—Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
Whether that’s indulging Wes Anderson’s imagination (as a three-time member of his ever-growing ensemble) or producing her own projects, Johansson always manages to surprise.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
My Rimowa cabin carry-on has been a reliable favorite for years—surprisingly spacious and perfect for indulging my overpacking tendencies.
—Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2025
How did Chanel maintain her gamine figure while regularly indulging there?
—Leslie Camhi, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025
Nominally, this is a feel-good redemption drama, though Perry can’t help indulging some darker impulses as well.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Sep. 2025
And, heck, even Friday, particularly with Travis Kelce indulging and inciting fans at Neo Quimica Arena with dance moves during warmups before the Chiefs took on the Los Angeles Chargers.
—Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
But Septime Webre’s choreography is supposed to have the air of wild and sometimes frenzied social dancing, of Charlestons and Fox Trots and Black Bottoms, of indulging the glorious excesses of the 1920s before the greedier side of the American Dream comes crashing down a few years later.
—David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Oct. 2025
The other people Ye tries to big-foot into indulging his perverse Peter Pan complex fare more poorly.
—Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
Whether that’s indulging Wes Anderson’s imagination (as a three-time member of his ever-growing ensemble) or producing her own projects, Johansson always manages to surprise.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
My Rimowa cabin carry-on has been a reliable favorite for years—surprisingly spacious and perfect for indulging my overpacking tendencies.
—Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2025
How did Chanel maintain her gamine figure while regularly indulging there?
—Leslie Camhi, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025
Nominally, this is a feel-good redemption drama, though Perry can’t help indulging some darker impulses as well.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Sep. 2025
And, heck, even Friday, particularly with Travis Kelce indulging and inciting fans at Neo Quimica Arena with dance moves during warmups before the Chiefs took on the Los Angeles Chargers.
—Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indulging
Verb
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Green Bay has struggled mightily against the run, surrendering an average of 198 rushing yards in the last three games.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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The suspect drove around the area before surrendering to police in Atwater Village.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Butter crocks are designed with an air-tight seal and a separate space to store water at the bottom that prevents air from reaching the butter, which can lead to spoiling.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
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There is also a fear in Cuba that the developments in Venezuela could cause a deterioration of the quality of life because of power issues, including with spoiling food, trash and mosquitoes.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC news,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There’s just something so gratifying about being able to say thank you.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Nov. 2025
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As his family found relief from Soviet rule in the United States, Surovtsev also found love, gratifying work, and God.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
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However, that action then sparked outrage among many residents who felt the city was abandoning homeless residents, while also trying to push them to other cities.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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At the same time, demand for nonalcoholic alternatives has surged — even as most consumers continue to drink alcohol in moderation rather than abandoning it altogether.—
Jason Mastrodonato,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Turn French toast into a crowd-pleasing casserole in this easy to make casserole that even the kids can help prepare.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
8 Jan. 2026
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The actress and comedian almost singlehandedly revived the Golden Globes telecast last year with a hosting gig that did the near-impossible feat of pleasing a room full of A-listers and seemingly everyone who watched on TV.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Indulging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indulging. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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