indulgently
gb/ɪndˈʌld͡ʒəntli/ us/ɪndˈʌld͡ʒəntli/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
C1
property
1
in a tolerant, forgiving way
in a kind way that forgives mistakes
Usage pattern:
[someone] + [verb] + indulgently (at [someone]/[something])
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse it with “indulgent” (adjective) or use it when they mean “politely” or “friendly” (which is broader).
Synonyms
leniently (More about not punishing or being strict.)
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tolerantly (More about accepting something you might not like.)
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fondly (Emphasizes affection more than forgiveness.)
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benignly (Slightly more formal; stresses gentle good will.)
Antonyms
sternly (With strict seriousness rather than tolerant affection.)
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harshly (With sharp criticism instead of forgiveness.)
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strictly (By applying rules firmly rather than overlooking faults.)
Collocations
smile indulgently
|look indulgently
|laugh indulgently
|chuckle indulgently
|speak indulgently
|shake your head indulgently
|an indulgently amused smile
|watch indulgently
|listen indulgently
|pat [someone] indulgently
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|parenting
|social_interaction
Examples
- She smiled indulgently as he struggled to explain his plan.
- The teacher listened indulgently to the children’s wild stories.
- He shook his head indulgently at her obsession with the game.
Learner examples
- My dad smiled indulgently when I made the same mistake again.
- She looked at him indulgently and said nothing.
adverb
C1
property
2
in a pleasure-seeking way
in a way that treats yourself to something nice
Usage pattern:
[someone] + [verb] + indulgently
Common mistake:
“Indulgently” is not the same as “indulgently (toward someone)”; this meaning is about pleasing yourself, not forgiving others.
Synonyms
luxuriously (Suggests high comfort and quality, not necessarily excess.)
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lavishly (Emphasizes large amounts or generosity of spending.)
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extravagantly (Stronger sense of spending too much.)
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self-indulgently (Explicitly highlights pleasing yourself.)
Antonyms
frugally (With careful avoidance of unnecessary spending.)
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sparingly (Using or consuming only a small amount.)
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abstemiously (With deliberate restraint, especially from food or drink.)
Collocations
eat indulgently
|snack indulgently
|spend indulgently
|shop indulgently
|live indulgently
|treat yourself indulgently
|indulgently rich
|indulgently creamy
|indulgently decadent
|indulgently comfortable
Themes
food_and_drink
|lifestyle
|money
|shopping
Examples
- After the marathon, they ate indulgently and didn’t count calories.
- She spent indulgently on a hotel suite for her birthday weekend.
- He described the dessert as indulgently rich and chocolatey.
Learner examples
- On vacation, we ate indulgently.
- I spent indulgently and bought new shoes.
Grammar
Dictionary form
indulgently
IPA
GB/ɪndˈʌld͡ʒəntli/
US/ɪndˈʌld͡ʒəntli/
Syllables & stress
in - dul - gently (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (dul)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: indulgently
- Plural: indulgentlies
Word family
Forms
indulgentlies
noun
Core family
Related words
overindulge
verb
overindulgence
noun
overindulgent
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unindulgent
adjective
Advanced or less common
self-indulgent
adjective
self-indulgence
noun
Expressions
eat indulgently
1/ˈit ɪndˈʌld͡ʒəntli/
fixed phrase
eat as a special treat
to eat very tasty rich food as a treat
Examples
- On weekends they eat indulgently and cook big breakfasts.
- We ate indulgently after the exam was over.
- She decided to eat indulgently for one night and start her diet later.
laugh indulgently
1/lˈæf ɪndˈʌld͡ʒəntli/
fixed phrase
laugh with gentle tolerance
to laugh kindly, not in a mean way
Examples
- She laughed indulgently at his awkward attempt to flirt.
- The coach laughed indulgently and told them to focus on the next play.
- He laughed indulgently, as if he’d heard it all before.
look indulgently (at)
1/lˈʊk ɪndˈʌld͡ʒəntli ˈæt/
fixed phrase
watch with fond tolerance
to watch someone kindly and forgive them
Examples
- She looked indulgently at her brother as he boasted about his score.
- Grandparents often look indulgently at their grandchildren’s antics.
- He looked indulgently at the messy drawing and put it on the fridge.
smile indulgently
1/smˈaɪl ɪndˈʌld͡ʒəntli/
fixed phrase
smile with affectionate tolerance
to smile kindly and forgive a small mistake
Examples
- She smiled indulgently at his terrible joke.
- He smiled indulgently as the kids argued about the rules.
- The manager smiled indulgently and let the new intern try again.