indulging

[in-duhl-jing]

adjective

1. yielding to an inclination or desire, as by eating or drinking, engaging in a pleasurable activity, etc..

   The chocolaty sweetness in this zucchini loaf makes it perfect for the indulging dieter and fussy eater alike.

2. yielding to someone’s wishes or whims in a lenient or permissive way; indulgent.

   The menu was quite extensive, and the indulging father let his children order whatever they wanted.

noun

1. the act of yielding to one’s own or another’s inclination, desire, or whim; indulgence.

   The primary consequence of the indulging of greed is an increase of greed.

Other Word Forms

• indulgingly adverb
• unindulging adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of indulging¹

First recorded in 1660–70; indulge ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; indulge ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun sense

Example Sentences

After she goes to sleep, indulging in a nice book or some content, getting some quiet time, catching up with my husband and going to sleep.

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It’s tempting to write off NatCon, and Schmitt’s speech in particular, as an example of a bunch of right-wing kooks indulging their little fever dream of creating a white Christian autocracy.

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I’d spend hours basking under the sun, popping one lychee after another into my mouth, indulging in their syrupy goodness.

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“It’s basically a generation with spending power indulging nostalgia for their youth,” he says.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Now, in the absence of more competent advisors, the president is indulging his most dangerous authoritarian impulses.

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Related Words

• entertain 
• nourish 
• pamper 
• satiate 
• satisfy 
• spoil 
• take care of 
• tickle