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 While many dogs can't beat a scratch behind the ears or a belly rub, Luna the 4-year-old long-haired Weimaraner, was the picture of relaxation when her owner treated her to a pampering session with a special scalp massager. Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025 Fortunately, many of its best hotels have pampering, restorative wellness amenities and programs. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 25 May 2025 Once Alicia was brought back to health, she was adopted into a loving home where she's now completely pampered and treated like a princess. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025 There’s also a spa on-site to pamper yourself with massages, facials, and signature blowouts. Rana Good, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pamper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pamper
Verb
  • Dodge won't spoil the surprise by confirming if the last one will be based on the Charger or the Challenger (or maybe both), but the evidence suggests the latter is more likely.
    Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 13 Feb. 2023
  • Farmers’ broiler chickens suffocate, and dairy products spoil.
    Monica Mark, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Feb. 2023
Verb
  • Their admirably robust menu indulges coastal cravings via seasonal oysters and Gulf shrimp while appeasing land lovers with steakhouse favorites and handmade pastas.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 26 May 2025
  • This multicultural circus indulges the racial stereotyping that should be Hwang’s subject.
    Armond White, National Review, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • While Sir Alex Ferguson and his players were still nursing hangovers from their epic Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich in May 1999, Cunha came into the world in the Brazilian state of Paraiba.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 29 May 2025
  • Signs of a successful feeding routine include: Your newborn is nursing often.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 26 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pamper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pamper. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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