pandering

[pan-der-ing] / ˈpæn dər ɪŋ /

VERB

cater to, indulge

Synonyms

STRONG

cajole gratify massage please satisfy snow soap stroke

WEAK

brownnose fall all over lay it on play the game play up to politic soften up suck up to

Antonyms

STRONG

anger annoy disappoint disturb frustrate upset

WEAK

deny dissatisfy refuse

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.

“The experience of being Arab and Muslim has been to be the object of hate by one party and the subject of pandering by another. Both of them are alienating,” he said.

From Slate • Apr. 29, 2026

She'd grown weary of pandering to pop tropes of the "strong, independent female"; and wanted to present a "more honest and vulnerable" version of herself.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

It’s not just that the humor often feels too topical or reliant on pop culture, but that the culture it’s relying on is pandering to younger audiences.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

Despite the horror vacui and digital pandering, the objects brought together here by lead curator Rosina Buckland describe multiple facets of samurai culture with breadth and brilliance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

She was worried, worried that I would think less of her for pandering to the whimsy of some paranoid lordling.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss