indulgent
in-DUL-juhnt
/ɪnˈdʌl.dʒənt/
Having or indicating a readiness or over-readiness to satisfy the desires or whims of oneself or others.
Can describe overly lenient parenting or personal self-pampering with food, luxury, or leisure.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'indulgere' (to yield, grant, favor). In medieval times, an 'indulgence' was a certificate granted by the Church to pardon punishment for sins.
Word relationships
- lenient: Lenient means mild in punishment, while indulgent means actively gratifying desires.
- permissive: Permissive implies allowing freedom without intervention, whereas indulgent implies actively granting favors.
- austere: Austere means strict, plain, and disciplined without unnecessary comforts.
- strict: Strict implies enforcing firm rules and limiting desire.
Commonly confused with
- indolent: Indolent means lazy or avoiding effort; indulgent means pampering or giving into pleasures.
Word family
- indulge (verb): To allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of something.
- indulgence (noun): The act of indulging or a state of gratification.
Collocations
- self-indulgent
- indulgent parents
- indulgent smile
- indulgent attitude
Example sentences
- "Her indulgent grandparents bought her every toy she pointed at during their afternoon walk." Character Study
Memory hook
If you IN-DULGE, you yield to your desires like an INDULGENT parent. Yielding to every desire.
When not to use
Do not use to describe cruel or strict control; it strictly means pampering or giving in.
Fun facts
- The sale of Catholic Church indulgences in 1517 was the main spark that triggered Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation.
Related words
Explore more words
indulge, accommodating, indolent, credulous, sentimental, patronizing
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.