Indulgent
/ɪnˈdʌldʒənt/
Definitions
Characterized by being overly generous or lenient; permitting oneself to enjoy the pleasures of life.
/ɪnˈdʌldʒənt/
Excessively generous or lenient
The indulgent grandparents showered their grandchildren with gifts.
💡 Simply: Imagine your friend always lets you eat dessert, even when you've already had dinner. They are indulgent!
👶 For kids: When you let someone do something fun, even if it's not super good for them, that's being indulgent!
More Examples
She was known for her indulgent nature, often letting her dog sleep on the sofa.
The critics saw the movie as an indulgent exercise in self-aggrandizement.
How It's Used
"An indulgent parent lets their children have whatever they want."
"The market caters to an indulgent consumer base that prioritizes luxury."
Idioms & expressions
Self-indulgent
Characterized by gratifying one's own desires, especially to an excessive degree.
"The movie was criticized for being self-indulgent, with unnecessary scenes."
From Latin indulgens, present participle of indulgere 'to be kind, yield to'.
Historically, 'indulgent' was often used in religious contexts, referring to the remission of sins, though this usage is less common today.
Memory tip
Imagine someone handing out free desserts to everyone, no matter how many they've already had. They're being indulgent!