pandering
Americannoun
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the act of catering to or profiting from the weaknesses, vices, or unreasonable desires of others.
Pandering and fear-mongering are the main ingredients of his appeal to anxious voters.
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the act or practice of furnishing clients for a prostitute or supplying persons for illicit sex acts.
Human trafficking violates many other laws as well, including those against kidnapping, slavery, false imprisonment, and pandering.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pandering
First recorded in 1600–10; pander + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun senses; pander + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective sense
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Pandering to Hollywood is a disheartening if common spectacle, but the exhibition’s claim is absurd on its face.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2022
Pandering to older voters has been an effective strategy for many campaigns over the years.
From US News • Sep. 6, 2016
Pandering to no one, she said she wouldn’t put any woman on the bill.
From Washington Post • Sep. 18, 2015
Pandering on all 3 tonight was EPIC,” Ms. Coultersaid.
From Washington Times • Sep. 17, 2015
Pandering is a common and thriving business, though the laws against it are of barbaric severity.
From Women of the Teutonic Nations Woman: In all ages and in all countries Vol. 8 (of 10) by Schoenfeld, Hermann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.