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 of indulgent

• easy
• soft
• charitable

Examples of indulgent in a Sentence

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

That’s a category that those in the car business refer to when talking about practically-sized, semi-luxurious, but not over-indulgent or pricey vehicles. —New Atlas, 2 May 2026

The rich, indulgent dessert is designed to live up to its name, mimicking brownie batter in all its creamy, fudgy, glory. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 1 May 2026

Discover the indulgent, rich flavors of Argentinian alfajores with this double pack. —Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026

Researchers from the University of Bristol in England and the University at Buffalo in New York found that people actively trying to suppress food cravings were more likely to spend time watching indulgent food content online — yet ended up eating less of it afterward. —Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026

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 

: indulging or showing indulgence : lenient

an indulgent parent

indulgently adverb