indulgent
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word 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
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Achievement First 7th Grade IA 1 Words
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Purple Hibiscus
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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.
“Queen Kelly”—starring Gloria Swanson, who also co-produced the movie—was to be the indulgent Stroheim’s last silent picture as a director.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026
Though the film runs nearly 2 1/2 hours, it’s too full of fascination and involving, freely interwoven human drama to ever feel indulgent.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
A savory, deeply indulgent twist on the cinnamon roll: pillowy brioche spiraled with a silky, peppery cheese filling that melts into something glossy and rich.
From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026
At nearly four hours, the sequel is bigger, louder and more indulgent than the original.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
Anyway, they were more indulgent toward us than at any other time; they snapped at the heels of the seniors, driving and molding and arming them for the war.
From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles
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.
