indulgent
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of indulgent
First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin indulgent-, stem of indulgēns “taking pleasure in,” present participle of indulgēre; see indulge
Explanation
Someone who is self-indulgent gives themselves a lot of treats. Parents who are indulgent cave to every desire their child expresses. Indulgent means lenient, or overly generous. Indulgent is a word that, here in Puritanical North America, is hard to know how to take. Is it okay to “indulge yourself” as so many spa advertisements suggest? Or is indulgent always associated with excess? You can indulge fantasies of figuring out the answer, or you can give in to an indulgent shrug and move on to another word.
Vocabulary lists containing indulgent
The Giver
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Achievement First 7th Grade IA 1 Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Purple Hibiscus
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Specially Selected's Indulgent Greek Yogurts, which come in honey and honey vanilla flavors, make for a quick breakfast or sweet snack.
From Salon • Jul. 20, 2022
Indulgent is a good old-fashioned word that we don't hear enough these days.
From The Guardian • Feb. 8, 2012
Indulgent aunts, uncles and grandparents know it too�and quite a few businessmen are in on the secret.
From Time Magazine Archive
Indulgent officials, spotting a discrepancy between the spelling of his name "Sneya" on his passport and his adopted signature, nevertheless allowed him to pass "like any tourist."
From Time Magazine Archive
Indulgent Mr. Godfrey pacified her by taking a sheet of paper, and drawing out the declaration.
From The Moonstone by Collins, Wilkie
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.
