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
Valentine’s Day is all about indulging your senses, especially your sense of smell.
—
Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 3 Feb. 2026
By indulging his endless, self-destructive reserves of contempt, Doug chances upon a truth, not unlike what Oliver Stone did with JFK.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
The Animal Collective member’s first solo album is a personal, psychedelic trip indulging his fascination with the hurdy-gurdy.
—Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
Battambang province is Cambodia’s agricultural heartland and, aside from indulging at the local markets, one of the best ways to experience its culinary heritage is getting into the countryside.
—Vicky Smith, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
The skaters, staff, volunteers and fans were generous in indulging me.
—Brian Munoz, NPR, 11 Jan. 2026
José Daniel Ferrer’s life exposes the costs of indulging revolutionary illusions.
—Michael Lucchese, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
For The Union-Tribune Well, holiday indulging was fun, right?
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Keep the spirit of exploration alive by indulging your mind at every opportunity.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 3 Feb. 2026
By indulging his endless, self-destructive reserves of contempt, Doug chances upon a truth, not unlike what Oliver Stone did with JFK.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
The Animal Collective member’s first solo album is a personal, psychedelic trip indulging his fascination with the hurdy-gurdy.
—Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
Battambang province is Cambodia’s agricultural heartland and, aside from indulging at the local markets, one of the best ways to experience its culinary heritage is getting into the countryside.
—Vicky Smith, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
The skaters, staff, volunteers and fans were generous in indulging me.
—Brian Munoz, NPR, 11 Jan. 2026
José Daniel Ferrer’s life exposes the costs of indulging revolutionary illusions.
—Michael Lucchese, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
For The Union-Tribune Well, holiday indulging was fun, right?
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Keep the spirit of exploration alive by indulging your mind at every opportunity.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indulging
Verb
-
Iger is staying on as a senior advisor until the end of his current contract on December 31, surrendering the CEO title at the meeting.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Now, a video making the rounds on social media appears to show three Russian soldiers emerging from a building with their arms raised and surrendering to a robot armed with a machine gun.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While photography was strictly off limits in certain creative hubs to avoid spoiling unannounced figurines currently in development, the atmosphere on-site remained incredibly jovial.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2026
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Winter Storm Fern is already spoiling weekend travel plans for Charlotte airport passengers, with a forecast of snow, sleet, and freezing rain looming over the state.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And that is gratifying after two episodes of somewhat dull table-setting.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The show can be funny, the camaraderie among the characters is gratifying, and the doctors are extraordinarily good-looking in the way only TV doctors can be.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Nick Puglia accused the former governor of abandoning storm victims across multiple crises.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Feb. 2026
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Hapag-Lloyd is returning to the Red Sea for the first time since abandoning the trade artery in December 2023, bringing back a service line through the Suez Canal route in conjunction with Gemini Cooperation partner Maersk.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Can an aging bull learn some new tricks to continue pleasing its owners?—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
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The provocative, genre-defying horror flick boasts unhinged gore, a delightfully dark sense of humor, Madigan as the creepiest aunt ever, and a crowd-pleasing finale.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Indulging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indulging. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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