Synonym Chooser

How does the verb pamper contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pamper are baby, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, and spoil. While all these words mean "to show undue favor to a person's desires and feelings," pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect.

pampered by the amenities of modern living

When is baby a more appropriate choice than pamper?

The meanings of baby and pamper largely overlap; however, baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude.

babying students by grading too easily

Where would humor be a reasonable alternative to pamper?

While the synonyms humor and pamper are close in meaning, humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims.

humored him by letting him tell the story

When can indulge be used instead of pamper?

While in some cases nearly identical to pamper, indulge implies excessive compliance and weakness in gratifying another's or one's own desires.

indulged myself with food at the slightest excuse

When might mollycoddle be a better fit than pamper?

Although the words mollycoddle and pamper have much in common, mollycoddle suggests an excessive degree of care and attention to another's health or welfare.

refused to mollycoddle her malingering son

When is it sensible to use spoil instead of pamper?

The synonyms spoil and pamper are sometimes interchangeable, but spoil stresses the injurious effects on character by indulging or pampering.

foolish parents spoil their children

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pamper Infused with the brand’s signature scent—a warm, sophisticated blend of amber, musk, and florals—this shampoo not only cleanses but also pampers the senses. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025 They will also be pampered in a variety of opulent living areas including movie theater, gym. Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025 Yet the train of military vehicles that appeared was remarkably tame, a cavalcade of superannuated weapons platforms serving as a reminder of the degree to which the military-industrial complex, glutted with money and pampered by Congress, has run out of new ideas. Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025 Rose water brings with it soothing properties and a lovely scent, as ultrafine silica powder and jojoba beads very softly help break up flakes to reveal petal-soft skin that feels pampered, not perturbed. Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pamper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pamper
Verb
  • The Wildcats spoiled the Nittany Lions' homecoming game, outscoring them 9-7 in the fourth quarter to just squeak out the win.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The North Carolina Courage spoiled Bay FC’s last home game of the season Friday night as Manaka Matsukubo’s hat trick led to a resounding 4-1 win, matching the most lopsided home loss in Bay’s two-year history.
    Jon Becker, Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • 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
Verb
  • Their sons were 13 months and 1 month old at the time, and Federline asked her not to go home and nurse them.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
  • These migrants became figures left in a historical stasis, unable to face their present while nursing traumatic loss (their nostalgic literature constitutes an entire genre).
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pamper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pamper. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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