indulgent
adjective
in·dul·gent in-ˈdəl-jənt 
1
: willing to allow excessive leniency, generosity, or consideration : indulging or characterized by indulgence
indulgent grandparents
2
: done or enjoyed as a special treat or pleasure
indulgent desserts
indulgently adverb
Synonyms
- charitable
- clement
- easy
- soft
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He gave the child an indulgent smile. she was perhaps a bit too indulgent with her children, who always seemed to get away with everything
Recent Examples on the Web But are people too indulgent with their pets, however much that might help your business? 
Phil Wahba, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2022 The Batman errs on the side of letting Reeves have his indulgent way. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 28 Feb. 2022 Additions like bath bombs, a good body wash, or even a fun shower cap can make getting clean feel all the more indulgent. Jamie Wilson, Harper's BAZAAR, 31 Aug. 2022 Ranging from lighter dishes to more indulgent ones, specialties include blackberry and goat cheese pancakes – a 60-year-old recipe – and more. San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Aug. 2022 Money is getting stretched thinner, and splurges feel a little bit too indulgent. Noel Cody, Essence, 14 July 2022 But if Friday’s concert offered the spectacle of a band becoming a nostalgia act in real time, at least the Black Keys never became too self-indulgent. Marc Hirsh, BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2022 Research, for instance, has documented that virtuous behaviors, such as voting, helping someone or donating to charity will green-light self-indulgent or unethical behaviors. Evan Polman, WSJ, 10 Feb. 2022 For many artists working in the postwar period, the horrors of the Great War had made the exuberant, swirling colors and the bucolic scenes of Die Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter seem naïve or indulgent, or both. A.j. Goldmann, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 See More
Phil Wahba, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2022 The Batman errs on the side of letting Reeves have his indulgent way. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 28 Feb. 2022 Additions like bath bombs, a good body wash, or even a fun shower cap can make getting clean feel all the more indulgent. Jamie Wilson, Harper's BAZAAR, 31 Aug. 2022 Ranging from lighter dishes to more indulgent ones, specialties include blackberry and goat cheese pancakes – a 60-year-old recipe – and more. San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Aug. 2022 Money is getting stretched thinner, and splurges feel a little bit too indulgent. Noel Cody, Essence, 14 July 2022 But if Friday’s concert offered the spectacle of a band becoming a nostalgia act in real time, at least the Black Keys never became too self-indulgent. Marc Hirsh, BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2022 Research, for instance, has documented that virtuous behaviors, such as voting, helping someone or donating to charity will green-light self-indulgent or unethical behaviors. Evan Polman, WSJ, 10 Feb. 2022 For many artists working in the postwar period, the horrors of the Great War had made the exuberant, swirling colors and the bucolic scenes of Die Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter seem naïve or indulgent, or both. A.j. Goldmann, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin indulgent-, indulgens, present participle of indulgēre
First Known Use
1509, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
indulgent
adjective
in·dul·gent in-ˈdəl-jənt
: feeling or showing a willingness to allow enjoyment of whatever is wanted : lenient
indulgent parents
indulgent
adjective
1
as in easy
tolerant and kind in the judgment of and expectations for others she was perhaps a bit too indulgent with her children, who always seemed to get away with everything Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- easy
- soft
- charitable
- clement
- acquiescent
- obliging
- laid-back
- accommodating
- easygoing
- amenable
- undemanding
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- harsh
- severe
- stern
- strict
- hard
- demanding
- uncompromising
- intolerant
- uncharitable
- inflexible
- unforgiving
- unyielding
- unbending
2
as in luxurious
given to or marked by excessive gratification of one's desires inherited riches helped fuel her indulgent lifestyle Synonyms & Similar Words
- luxurious
- sensual
- overindulgent
- hedonistic
- sybaritic
- self-indulgent
- decadent
- extravagant
- greedy
- voluptuous
- sensuous
- gluttonous
- reckless
- masturbatory
- onanistic
- uncontrolled
- self-absorbed
- self-obsessed
- splurging
- carnal
- intemperate
- incontinent
- voracious
- rapacious
- fleshly
- wanton
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- abstemious
- temperate
- sober
- ascetic
- austere
- self-abnegating
- continent
- self-denying
- abstinent
- ascetical
- spartan
- disciplined
- self-disciplined
- self-controlled
- self-governed
3
as in friendly
willing to do a favor an indulgent clerk who let me try on practically every size-seven shoe the store had Synonyms & Similar Words
- friendly
- obliging
- accommodating
- accommodative
- solicitous
- overindulgent
- helpful
- thoughtful
- lenient
- permissive
- considerate
- gracious
- complaisant
- agreeable
- amenable