indulgence

[in-duhl-juhns] / ɪnˈdʌl dʒəns /

NOUN

luxury; gratification

Synonyms

STRONGEST

extravagance kindness leniency permissiveness privilege

STRONG

allowance appeasement attention courtesy endurance excess favor fondling fondness forbearance fulfillment goodwill hedonism immoderation intemperance intemperateness lenience pampering partiality patience petting pleasing profligacy satiation satisfaction service spoiling tolerance toleration understanding

WEAK

babying coddling favoring gratifying kowtowing placating profligateness toadying treating

Antonyms

STRONG

disapproval disfavor disregard dissatisfaction frustration intolerance need want

WEAK

abstention care moderation temperance

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.

However, the evidence suggests it may be wiser to treat it as an occasional indulgence rather than a daily staple.

From Science Daily • Mar. 1, 2026

Season 4, however, has turned the salmon from a background indulgence into a full-blown subplot.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

Branded as "danmei" - or indulgence in beauty - the genre is part of a beloved lineage of gay romance that has long catered to female fantasy.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

The lime-green background and blurry typography on the cover of her sixth album, “Brat,” quickly became internet shorthand for the season’s pursuit of devil-may-care indulgence and personal adventure.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

Indeed, I heard several times his lordship express the view that without the participation of such a personage, any discussion on the topic of Germany would be little more than an indulgence.

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Vocabulary lists containing indulgence

Eat Your Words

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!

Monster

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!

Bob Dylan Wins Nobel Prize in Literature

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!