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pander

9 synonyms for pander, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To act in a way that indulges or appeals to someone's weaknesses, desires, or lower tastes, often for personal gain.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To act in a way that indulges or appeals to someone's weaknesses, desires, or lower tastes, often for personal gain.

“The politician was accused of pandering to voters' fears.”

2. noun

A person who arranges illicit sexual liaisons for others; a pimp.

“In the old play, the pander helps arrange the secret meeting between the lovers.”

How to use pander

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

pander to pandering to the crowd

Etymology

From Pandare, a character in Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde who arranges the love affair between the two title characters — his name became a generic word for someone who enables others' desires.

Full origin of pander →

Frequently asked questions

What does “pander” mean?
The word “pander” means to act in a way that indulges or appeals to someone's weaknesses, desires, or lower tastes, often for personal gain. In plain terms, mostly used today as a verb meaning to cater to people's weaknesses or base desires, especially for approval or profit.
How do you pronounce “pander”?
“Pander” is pronounced PAN-duh (/ˈpændə/ in IPA).
How do you use “pander” in a sentence?
Here is “pander” used in a sentence: “The politician was accused of pandering to voters' fears.”
What is another word for “pander”?
Words with a similar meaning to “pander” include hustle.
What part of speech is “pander”?
Depending on how it is used, “pander” can be a verb and a noun.
How many meanings does “pander” have?
“Pander” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to act in a way that indulges or appeals to someone's weaknesses, desires, or lower tastes, often for personal gain.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.