indulgence

noun

in·dul·gence | \ in-ˈdəl-jən(t)s

Definition of indulgence

1 : remission of part or all of the temporal and especially purgatorial punishment that according to Roman Catholicism is due for sins whose eternal punishment has been remitted and whose guilt has been pardoned (as through the sacrament of reconciliation)

2 : the act of indulging : the state of being indulgent

3a : an indulgent act

b : an extension of time for payment or performance granted as a favor

4a : the act of indulging in something especially : self-indulgence

b : something indulged in walk off gastronomic indulgences— Barbara L. Michaels

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about indulgence

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Examples of indulgence in a Sentence

She lived a life of selfish indulgence. his indulgence in forbidden pleasures She found that she couldn't afford the indulgences she had once enjoyed. For our anniversary we allowed ourselves the indulgence of an elegant dinner at our favorite restaurant. Good food is my only indulgence.

Recent Examples on the Web

To me, lingerie was always the ultimate indulgence. — Maria Del Russo, Glamour, "I Got Rid of All My Old Underwear and It Was Lifechanging," 10 Jan. 2019 Their guests don’t want Pilates classes or sunrise boot camps to pre-empt the indulgences that make vacations worth waiting for. — Margot Dougherty, WSJ, "Wellness Getaways That Come With Tequila," 20 Feb. 2019 One of my indulgences with this job is to review $4,000 audiophile headphones. — Vlad Savov, The Verge, "Sales are a measure of sales, not importance," 16 Oct. 2018 Josuel was paid very little by his brother — just enough to fund his basic needs and his youthful, bachelor indulgences. — Travis Andersen, BostonGlobe.com, "Man convicted of operating family stash houses for fentanyl and heroin gets 54-month prison term," 19 June 2018 Including a $60 luxury indulgence that beauty editors simply can't get enough of and a bevy of drugstore scores that ring in at under two bucks, this list contains no shortage of balms for every budget. — Sophie Wirt, Allure, "The 33 Best Lip Treatments We've Ever Tried," 13 Aug. 2018 Every one of these menu items felt like a true indulgence—like a food hug, if there were such a thing. — Anne Roderique-jones, SELF, "I Practiced Hygge and It's Kind of the Best Thing Ever," 25 Dec. 2018 For me, indulgence has always been tied to great effort. — Minhae Shim Roth, Glamour, "My Reward for Having a Baby? A $1,000 Gucci Bag," 7 Jan. 2019 Burn off that indulgence with a few hours strolling round the brand new South Carolina Historical Society museum, which also opens this month. — Mark Ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, "Best Places to Visit in September," 25 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'indulgence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.