Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

indulgent

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of indulgent

1 tolerant and kind in the judgment of and expectations for others

  • she was perhaps a bit too indulgent with her children, who always seemed to get away with everything
Synonyms of indulgent

charitable, clement, easy, soft
Words Related to indulgent

accommodating, acquiescent, amenable, obliging

easygoing, laid-back, undemanding
Near Antonyms of indulgent

demanding

uncharitable, unforgiving

inflexible, intolerant, unbending, uncompromising, unyielding
Antonyms of indulgent

hard, harsh, severe, stern, strict

2 given to or marked by excessive gratification of one's desires

  • inherited riches helped fuel her indulgent lifestyle
Synonyms of indulgent

decadent, hedonistic, luxurious, overindulgent, self-indulgent, sybaritic
Words Related to indulgent

carnal, fleshly, sensual, sensuous, voluptuous

masturbatory, onanistic, self-absorbed, self-obsessed

gluttonous, greedy, rapacious, voracious

extravagant, incontinent, intemperate, reckless, splurging, uncontrolled, wanton
Near Antonyms of indulgent

abstemious, abstinent, continent, sober, temperate

ascetic (also ascetical), austere, spartan

disciplined, self-controlled, self-disciplined, self-governed
Antonyms of indulgent

self-abnegating, self-denying

3 willing to do a favor

  • an indulgent clerk who let me try on practically every size-seven shoe the store had
Synonyms of indulgent

accommodating, accommodative, friendly, obliging
Words Related to indulgent

helpful, solicitous

considerate, thoughtful

agreeable, amenable, complaisant, gracious

lenient, overindulgent, permissive

Learn More about indulgent

  1. Dictionary: Definition of indulgent Spanish Central: Translation of indulgent Nglish: Translation of indulgent for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up indulgent? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

mawkish

exaggeratedly or childishly emotional

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. rogue Trump speculates on Saudi journalist's fate

  2. nepotism Trump muses about Ivanka UN appointment

  3. cloture McConnell motions for Kavanaugh vote

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games