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

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 Even so, there was always an element of freshness and quality that lent these indulgences a healthy spin, like a touch of earthy wheat flour for the excellent blueberry pancakes drizzled with syrup turned indigo with pureed blueberries. — Craig Laban, Philly.com, "Craig LaBan's first bite of the Delaware beaches | A dining guide," 15 June 2018 Consider the Whole30 plan, which is essentially an elimination diet that calls for a month-long commitment — no cheat meals, no indulgences. — NBC News, "Why losing weight too quickly may backfire in the long run," 31 Jan. 2018 Stick with small meals, and keep oily indulgences to a minimum, says Dr. Sheth. — Jill Provost, Woman's Day, "End Digestive Problems for Good," 21 May 2012 This setup seems like standard rom-com fare, complete with a side of upper-crust indulgence. — Alex Abad-santos, Vox, "Crazy Rich Asians’ crazy rich success could mean more stories about less crazy rich Asian-American people.," 21 Dec. 2018 However, a new study suggests that this experiential-purchase advantage may be a bourgeois indulgence. — Kevin Lewis, BostonGlobe.com, "Judges vs. climate change," 1 June 2018 There was almost a self-indulgence to Madrid’s success under him, a willingness to flirt with danger that perhaps is open only to the very wealthiest who would be bored were their resources to be deployed more ruthlessly, more efficiently. — Jonathan Wilson, SI.com, "Real Madrid Ushered Into Sudden Chaos After Zidane's Resignation," 31 May 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.