indulgent
gb/ɪndˈʌld͡ʒənt/ us/ɪndˈʌld͡ʒənt/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
C1
property
1
too lenient or forgiving
too kind and not strict when someone does something wrong.
Usage pattern:
indulgent to/toward(s) [someone]; indulgent of [something]; indulgent with [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse indulgent (too forgiving) with indignant (angry about unfairness).
Synonyms
lenient (More directly about rules and punishment.)
|
permissive (Often implies allowing too much freedom, especially for children.)
|
tolerant (Emphasizes accepting differences or faults rather than excusing wrongdoing.)
Antonyms
strict (Enforces rules firmly and does not easily excuse mistakes.)
|
harsh (Severely critical or punishing.)
Collocations
indulgent parents
|an indulgent mother
|an indulgent father
|an indulgent teacher
|an indulgent boss
|an indulgent attitude
|indulgent behavior
|indulgent toward his children
|indulgent of mistakes
|indulgent with employees
Themes
relationships
|parenting
|education
|behavior
Examples
- His grandparents were indulgent and let him stay up as late as he wanted.
- The judge was surprisingly indulgent, giving her a second chance.
- She gave him an indulgent look and said, “Just this once.”
Learner examples
- My dad is indulgent and buys me snacks.
- The teacher was indulgent about our late homework.
adjective
B2
property
2
luxurious or pleasure-giving
very enjoyable and like a special treat.
Usage pattern:
an indulgent [treat/dessert/meal/bath/holiday]
Common mistake:
Indulgent describes the thing or experience (an indulgent dessert), while indulge is the verb (to indulge in dessert).
Synonyms
luxurious (Focuses on high quality and comfort, not necessarily on giving in to desire.)
|
decadent (Often suggests rich food and a sense of 'too much' in a pleasurable way.)
|
rich (Common for food; emphasizes heavy, creamy, or strongly flavored.)
Antonyms
plain (Simple and not special or rich.)
|
austere (Deliberately simple and without comforts or luxuries.)
Collocations
an indulgent treat
|an indulgent dessert
|an indulgent meal
|indulgent chocolate
|an indulgent cake
|an indulgent bath
|an indulgent spa day
|an indulgent weekend
|an indulgent holiday
|an indulgent lifestyle
Themes
food
|lifestyle
|daily_life
|health
Examples
- We ended the meal with an indulgent chocolate dessert.
- After a stressful week, she booked an indulgent spa day.
- The sauce is creamy and indulgent, but it’s definitely not light.
Learner examples
- This cake is indulgent and very sweet.
- I took an indulgent bath after work.
Grammar
Dictionary form
indulgent
IPA
GB/ɪndˈʌld͡ʒənt/
US/ɪndˈʌld͡ʒənt/
Syllables & stress
in - dul - gent (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (dul)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: indulgent
Word family
Core family
Related words
self-indulgent
adjective
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.