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.

If anything, our previous Eurovision entries played it too safe, pandering to a cliché of polished electro-pop.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

In turn, an expanding roster of immersive, cinematic TV made the medium’s cheesy jingles and pandering copy look and sound discordant.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026

First, good on Mazzulla to straight-up treat the kid as the reporter he clearly is, and answer the question directly, without pandering or turning it into some sort of saccharine after-school special.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

There’s another song called “Walk Away,” but we thought that might be pandering.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2025

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