Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of allowing yourself or someone else to have something enjoyable, especially something considered unnecessary or excessive: "Indulgence" refers to the act of gratifying a desire or wish, often by being lenient or permissive.
   • Something that is enjoyed or allowed as a special pleasure, especially something not considered essential: An "indulgence" can be the enjoyable thing itself.
   • The state or attitude of being indulgent; a tendency to be overly generous or lenient: "Indulgence" describes a disposition to yield to the wishes of others, often to avoid conflict or to please.
   • (Historical/Religion) In the Roman Catholic Church, a remission of the temporal punishment still due for sins after absolution: This is a formal, theological concept.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Eating chocolate is my one indulgence. (Here, "indulgence" is the enjoyable, non-essential thing itself.)
  • Her indulgence of her grandson's every whim made him spoiled. (Here, "indulgence" is the act of being overly lenient.)
  • The king granted an indulgence to the prisoners. (Here, "indulgence" means a special favor or leniency.)
  • The sale of indulgences was a controversial practice in medieval times. (This uses the specific religious/historical meaning.)

Advanced Usage

• "To treat oneself to an indulgence": This phrase emphasizes consciously allowing oneself a special pleasure.
  • After a long week, she treated herself to the indulgence of a spa day.
• "Culinary indulgence": A common collocation referring to the enjoyment of rich or luxurious food.
  • The dessert menu was a list of pure culinary indulgences.

Variants and Related Words

• Indulge (verb): To allow oneself or another to enjoy a desired pleasure.
  • He indulged his passion for vintage cars.
• Indulgent (adjective): Characterized by or given to indulgence; overly lenient.
  • Indulgent parents often struggle to set boundaries.
• Self-indulgence (noun): Excessive indulgence of one's own desires, feelings, or whims.
  • His weekend of self-indulgence left him feeling guilty.

Synonyms

• Gratification: The act of satisfying a desire.
• Leniency: The quality of being more merciful or tolerant than expected.
• Pampering: Treating someone with excessive care and attention.
• Treat: Something special that provides pleasure.

Antonyms

• Abstinence: The act of refraining from indulging a desire.
• Austerity: Sternness or severity of manner or attitude; strictness.
• Restraint: A measure or condition that keeps someone or something under control.

Related Phrases

• A guilty indulgence: A pleasure one enjoys despite feeling it is somewhat wrong or excessive.
  • Watching reality TV is my guilty indulgence.
• To show indulgence towards someone: To act in a lenient or forgiving way toward a person.
  • The teacher showed indulgence towards the student who had a good reason for being late.

Noun

1. the remission by the pope of the temporal punishment in purgatory that is still due for sins even after absolution
   • in the Middle Ages the unrestricted sale of indulgences by pardoners became a widespread abuse
2. foolish or senseless behavior
3. the act of indulging or gratifying a desire
4. a disposition to yield to the wishes of someone
   • too much indulgence spoils a child
5. an inability to resist the gratification of whims and desires