pamper

1 of 2

verb

pam·​per ˈpam-pər 

pampered; pampering ˈpam-p(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to treat with extreme or excessive care and attention

pampered their guests

pamper a pet

b

: gratify, humor

… enabled him to pamper his wanderlust …

—New Yorker

2

archaic : to cram with rich food : glut

pamperer

ˈpam-pər-ər 

noun

pamperer

2 of 2

noun

pam·​per·​er ˈpampərə(r) 

plural -s

: one that pampers

Synonyms of pamper

Verb

• spoil
• indulge
• nurse

Choose the Right Synonym for pamper

indulge, pamper, humor, spoil, baby, mollycoddle mean to show undue favor to a person's desires and feelings.

indulge implies excessive compliance and weakness in gratifying another's or one's own desires.

indulged myself with food at the slightest excuse

pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect.

pampered by the amenities of modern living

humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims.

humored him by letting him tell the story

spoil stresses the injurious effects on character by indulging or pampering.

foolish parents spoil their children

baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude.

babying students by grading too easily

mollycoddle suggests an excessive degree of care and attention to another's health or welfare.

refused to mollycoddle her malingering son

Examples of pamper in a Sentence

Verb

They really pamper their guests at that hotel.

She pampered herself with a day at the spa.

He was pampered all his life and doesn't know how to function in the real world.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Skin care picks to pamper your complexion Swapping out your skin care for thicker, richer formulas in fall and winter is a prime example (sorry, had to do it) of working smarter, not harder. — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 6 Oct. 2026

For a splurge and pampered stay, book a room at the Inn at Black Star Farms just south of town. — Mike Norton, Midwest Living, 26 Sep. 2026

The unlicensed recovery center underworld ranges from places that pamper patients with space and very personal care by licensed medical professionals to places that cram patients into spaces minded by people with limited or no medical training. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026

Ask For An Upgrade Moreso than most other vacation stays, all-inclusive resorts exist to pamper their guests. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, probably of Dutch origin; akin to Dutch dialect pamperen to pamper

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for pamper

• camper
• damper
• hamper
• scamper
• stamper
• tamper

Kids Definition

pamper

verb

pam·​per ˈpam-pər 

pampered; pampering -p(ə-)riŋ 

: to treat with too much care and attention