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
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
This isn’t about indulging individual preferences, but rather maximizing human potential.
—Neil Henderson, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The movie, to my eyes, badly miscalculates the ratio of paradise to despoilment, indulging the latter at the expense of the former.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
Just remember to label your edibles clearly and let everyone know the potency before indulging.
—Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2025
In America, self-control is framed as a personal choice — a way to get in shape or prove mental toughness before indulging again.
—Julie Cobalt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
And sure, while indulging ourselves with a $400 tin of caviar isn’t exactly akin to buying a tube of lipstick for most of us, the sentiment is valid.
—Allyson Reedy, The Denver Post, 19 Feb. 2025
The national community could be knit together without indulging the chauvinism of belligerence.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025
Leering over his shoulder at every stage is his manipulative wife, Ylfa (Toni Collette), who encourages his worst instincts — like the assumption that Creepers are a threat and must therefore be exterminated — while indulging her obsession with sauces.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 15 Feb. 2025
Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
This isn’t about indulging individual preferences, but rather maximizing human potential.
—Neil Henderson, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The movie, to my eyes, badly miscalculates the ratio of paradise to despoilment, indulging the latter at the expense of the former.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
Just remember to label your edibles clearly and let everyone know the potency before indulging.
—Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2025
In America, self-control is framed as a personal choice — a way to get in shape or prove mental toughness before indulging again.
—Julie Cobalt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
And sure, while indulging ourselves with a $400 tin of caviar isn’t exactly akin to buying a tube of lipstick for most of us, the sentiment is valid.
—Allyson Reedy, The Denver Post, 19 Feb. 2025
The national community could be knit together without indulging the chauvinism of belligerence.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025
Leering over his shoulder at every stage is his manipulative wife, Ylfa (Toni Collette), who encourages his worst instincts — like the assumption that Creepers are a threat and must therefore be exterminated — while indulging her obsession with sauces.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 15 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indulging
Verb
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Clay Holmes followed that up Wednesday by lasting four innings (plus two batters) and surrendering four runs.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Mazur exited after surrendering back-to-back singles with one out.—
Steve Gorten,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Without spoiling the actual ending, you guys do not die.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
12 Sep. 2025
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Without spoiling anyone’s fate, suffice to say the movie ends on a cliffhanger, as a favorite character teeters between life and death.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
So it's been a strange but really gratifying thing.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
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But Julia Stewart—a serial executive who has led operations across various billion-dollar American casual dining chains—had a gratifying career moment after being snubbed for CEO.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This doesn't mean making reckless career moves or abandoning job security without proper planning.—
Kara Dennison,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Since arriving at Starbucks during a time of turmoil, Niccol, a former top executive at Chipotle, has tried to rebuild personal connections with customers through initiatives like abandoning pickup-only shops and adjusting the interior design of stores.—
Eric Jackson,
Sportico.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Winning office becomes a matter of pleasing party bosses or local power brokers rather than persuading a broad swath of constituents.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The thinking among some academics and business leaders goes that requiring companies to disclose their finances every quarter, as the US has done since 1970, exacerbates Corporate America’s obsession with pleasing the stock market in the short term rather than focusing on long-term value creation.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Indulging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indulging. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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