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Synonyms

overindulge

American  
[oh-ver-in-duhlj] / ˌoʊ vər ɪnˈdʌldʒ /

verb (used with or without object)

overindulges, present (3rd person singular) overindulged, past participle, past overindulging present participle
  1. to indulge to excess.

    to overindulge one's fondness for candy.


overindulge British  
/ ˌəʊvərɪnˈdʌldʒ /

verb

  1. to indulge (in something, esp food or drink) immoderately; binge

  2. (tr) to yield excessively to the wishes of; spoil

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

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Conjugated Forms

Present

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Etymology

Origin of overindulge

First recorded in 1735–45; over- + indulge

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.

See Examples For:

“Memory for humans has been so fleeting that when we then get tools to conserve, we overindulge in it,” he said.

From Slate Nov. 13, 2024

But if you overindulge the rest of the time then you might put on even more weight.

From BBC Jan. 29, 2024

"During the colder months, people often crave carbohydrates and may overindulge in comfort foods," notes Dr. Daidone.

From Salon Dec. 25, 2023

Two-thirds of those surveyed said they overindulge in food, nearly 45% said they take a break from exercise and more than half report feeling tired and have less time for themselves.

From Science Daily Dec. 4, 2023

“It was hard to think. It was hard not to let off steam. It was hard not to overindulge in all the natural activities of life.”

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

The character charms as a foil to the humorless Mudge crew, though LaValle slightly overindulges this “soothe the savage beast” trope.

From Washington Post Mar. 28, 2023

Whether or not her mom overindulges her, wanting to pick which college she goes to and where she lives hardly makes your daughter a spoiled brat.

From Slate Dec. 2, 2020

Yet sometimes Reiss overindulges his penchant for literary analysis, simply using sleep as an excuse to riff on authors he loves.

From New York Times Mar. 1, 2017

And Ford, as he's done ever since the early Star Wars movies, overindulges in scowling and growling.

From Time Jul. 28, 2011

When he overindulges, Stoltzfus debates: Should I say something now?

From Seattle Times Jun. 12, 2011

"New year health goals also sent many of us who overindulged during the festive period on the hunt for sports supplements as we pushed our bodies back into exercise mode."

From BBC Feb. 20, 2026

Perhaps that’s why, in the season finale, the understandable impulse on the part of the show’s creators to showcase the positive and joyous sides of trans life are overindulged.

From Slate Jun. 6, 2021

I overindulged, and I have lost my appetite.

From Salon Dec. 26, 2020

Many wise people have never overindulged in alcohol, emerging from the womb saving for retirement and eating kale salads.

From Washington Post Apr. 16, 2018

We had felt it, and now, with plenty, overindulged, with the result that we were attacked with illness, and for a day or two I was almost too sick to move.

From The Long Labrador Trail by Wallace, Dillon

The protein boom actually could lead to American consumers overindulging, Ansari said.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 28, 2025

It was because, as she said, "I can see more clearly how overindulging wastes my time and poisons my body."

From Salon Jan. 30, 2024

And speaking of making a fresh start: Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz explains why you don’t actually need to “detox” after overindulging during the holidays.

From Slate Jan. 2, 2024

As a person who struggled with obesity since childhood, Stearns hated the annual turmoil of obsessing about what she ate — and the guilt of overindulging on a holiday built around food.

From Seattle Times Nov. 20, 2023

They imagine this wild animal roaming about the savannah on digestive walks after eating a prey that accepted its lot piously, or going for callisthenic runs to stay slim after overindulging.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

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