indulgence

noun

in-ˈdəl-jən(t)s How to pronounce indulgence (audio)
Definition of indulgencenext
1
as in kindness
an act of kind assistance as an only child, she was used to getting every kind of indulgence from her doting parents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in luxury
something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary bubble baths were her one indulgence

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of indulgence Summer is a great time to revisit juicy, fresh, or sweet gourmands, but as the weather cools down, we’re reminded of more nuanced indulgences. — Loren Savini, Allure, 22 Aug. 2026 Walker describes private aviation as a business tool rather than simply an indulgence. — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Few things feel as decadent as a rich meal or dessert—but even the butter dishes that house the starring ingredient for these dishes can feel like an indulgence. — Clara Hillis, Architectural Digest, 18 Aug. 2026 Global fusion arrived courtesy of the HoQ Crunchy Lamb Wrap at HoQ, and patriotic indulgence took center stage with the red, white and blue pork belly of the Star Spangled Swine from Whatcha’ Smokin BBQ. — Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for indulgence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indulgence
  1. kindness
  2. luxury
  3. privilege
  4. amenity
  5. service
  6. grace
  7. courtesy
  8. mercy
Noun
  • Following her death, Eloise’s family established the Living for Lulu Foundation to continue her legacy by encouraging kindness and helping animals in need.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • My mother, Cynthia, taught me to go through life with both relentless ambition and kindness.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of kindness
Noun
  • The 538-foot-tall building is out of scale for a neighborhood of mostly buildings between four and six stories, and will contain just 34 luxury condos, some with their own private entrances and garages.
    — David Freedlander, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026
  • While Detroit currently has enough financial wiggle room to not worry about exceeding the luxury tax, there is the NBA repeater tax levied to teams that go over the luxury tax in at least three out of four seasons.
    — Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of luxury
Noun
  • In a variation on her character from Parasite, Cho deftly underplays Yi-je’s insensitivity as another woman projecting a blithe lack of awareness of her privilege.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Cho herself prepared by consulting the late master of the form, Frederick Wiseman, who was unabashed about the tension between documentary filmaking’s often radical politics and the privilege required to turn it into a profession.
    — Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of privilege
Noun
  • Beyond its sheer size and resort-level amenities, the estate’s value lies in the kind of construction and materials that are difficult to replicate at today’s costs.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The family-friendly resort offers a host of amenities, including complimentary kayaks and paddleboards to use at the private beach, two heated pools, a luxurious spa, and more.
    — Megan duBois, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of amenity
Noun
  • The ground level is dedicated to the living room, while the first floor houses bedroom collections, in addition to personalized design and consulting services, a materials library and a VIP room.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Western intelligence services estimate Russia is losing some 40,000 troops a month – a rate of roughly 340 casualties for every square kilometer.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of service
Noun
  • This shimmering, sonorous work, from one of our greatest living directors, moves through the peculiar landscapes of human interaction with certainty, eccentricity and grace, alighting on a generous if rueful conclusion.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Cinematographer Kim Ji-yong’s camera never intrudes, lending grace and honesty to the character studies, while Jung Jae-il’s ravishing piano and string score heightens the emotions without becoming manipulative.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of grace
Noun
  • Goal number 12 in the Champions League arrived courtesy of a free kick against Feyenoord as Barcelona ran out comfortable winners.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • But the Dodgers pulled ahead again two innings later, courtesy of the red-hot bat Teoscar Hernández has been swinging in September.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of courtesy
Noun
  • As violence spills into every corner of their lives, loyalties snap, safety proves temporary, and the battle for power leaves no room for mercy.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The fungibility of the hands is a reprieve from the book’s scenes of violence and its fallout, from the endless assigning of blame and the apportioning out of mercy or destruction.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of mercy

Browse Nearby Words

indulge (in)
indulgence
indulgences
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Indulgence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indulgence. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on indulgence

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about indulgence

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shofar

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All