1
as in pleases
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surrenders
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 spoils
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
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 indulges
Teleportation indulges me due to time efficiency, being able to travel anywhere without cost, and just the experience of being anywhere as soon as someone needs me.
—
Rick Cantu, Austin American Statesman, 7 Apr. 2026
Her girlfriend — a writer who understands the emotional and mental demands of creating — indulges her interests.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
Chris is a freelance journalist who, when not writing, skywatching or playing games, indulges his taste for horror, sci-fi and the post-apocalyptic.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Elsewhere, Fennell indulges a familiar impulse to shock, or at least to jolt us awake.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Raimi indulges Send Help’s gore and gross-out moments with the zest of someone returning to his cult-favorite roots.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Evolution occasionally indulges us with organisms that seem too cool or too scary to be true, like something out of a science fiction film.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
As for Princess Lilibet, 4, her mother indulges one of her current interests.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
The falling soufflé as a symbol of the crumbling hotel is the kind of heavy-handed touch Solnicki rarely indulges.
—Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025
Rick Cantu, Austin American Statesman, 7 Apr. 2026
Her girlfriend — a writer who understands the emotional and mental demands of creating — indulges her interests.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
Chris is a freelance journalist who, when not writing, skywatching or playing games, indulges his taste for horror, sci-fi and the post-apocalyptic.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Elsewhere, Fennell indulges a familiar impulse to shock, or at least to jolt us awake.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Raimi indulges Send Help’s gore and gross-out moments with the zest of someone returning to his cult-favorite roots.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Evolution occasionally indulges us with organisms that seem too cool or too scary to be true, like something out of a science fiction film.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
As for Princess Lilibet, 4, her mother indulges one of her current interests.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
The falling soufflé as a symbol of the crumbling hotel is the kind of heavy-handed touch Solnicki rarely indulges.
—Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indulges
Verb
-
Waldmann Brewery makes a great date night, and Dark Horse’s burger pleases young adults.—
Jess Fleming,
Twin Cities,
23 Apr. 2026
-
This savory and sweet jam is easy to make and pleases a crowd.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Just like that, Cassie surrenders her image to Maddy’s control.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Robert Simmons surrenders to police following a seven-hour standoff.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Pushing too much hostility between team members or pushing Anthony too hard to be the peacekeeper could easily create an ugly atmosphere that spoils the vibe.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Frozen fruit keeps it affordable year-round and nothing spoils mid-week.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
By virtue of its sheer scale, everything that gratifies us about submarine cables feels amplified a hundredfold in 2Africa; the same goes for everything that worries us.—
Samanth Subramanian,
The Dial,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
What to read next The USSR withdraws troops from the border with Afghanistan, as Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev abandons invasion plans to focus his resources on the Space Race.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
17 Apr. 2026
-
God abandons the human race and lets people live out their days as the animal of their choice.—
Mariella Rudi,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her father — struggling with poverty and the grief over his wife's death — wants to shoot it, but Jessica secretly nurses the animal back to health, bringing her closer to her father in the process.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
25 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The obvious stork implication of this wallpaper delights me almost as much as its peel-and-stick quality.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Director Gay has sculpted a staging that is faithful to a more leisurely 19th-century storytelling style, yet satisfies modern audiences’ constant craving for stimulation.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
-
And Central Florida’s Lawrence satisfies Niners’ desire for speed and explosiveness to complement Nick Bosa.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Indulges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indulges. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
