as in luxurious
given to or marked by excessive gratification of one's desires
a reality show about self-indulgent twentysomethings whose sole concerns seem to be getting down and getting drunk
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Recent Examples of self-indulgent
But there’s nothing slack, or lazy, or subjective, or self-indulgent, about the elaborate verse-craft of those bards.
—
Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025
Some lauded Coppola for his ambition and refusal to play it safe, but the praise was exceeded by criticism, with the movie being called incoherent and self-indulgent.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Rescued repeatedly by Anderson’s surehandedness as an entertainer, One Battle After Another is clearly the best picture that could have been made from so self-indulgent a script.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
Bargatze’s bit is predicated on the fact that most awards show speeches are self-indulgent, rambling tributes to other celebrities, which is fine.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
Despite the mixed reception, the money counter was an earnest attempt to keep the show running on schedule, preventing one or two self-indulgent speakers from wrecking the running time.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
What felt different was how formerly personal (and occasionally self-indulgent) matters telescoped into broader concerns.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
As Black women face workforce trends like layoffs, burnout, and furloughs more acutely, which can impact mental and physical health, this mindset shift, ironically, underscores that soft living within a community context is a sustainable practice, not a self-indulgent one.
—Essence, 15 Aug. 2025
It can be used to crudely express boredom, annoyance or to signal that something is self-indulgent or lacking purpose.
—Sofi Zeman
august 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025
Some lauded Coppola for his ambition and refusal to play it safe, but the praise was exceeded by criticism, with the movie being called incoherent and self-indulgent.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Rescued repeatedly by Anderson’s surehandedness as an entertainer, One Battle After Another is clearly the best picture that could have been made from so self-indulgent a script.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
Bargatze’s bit is predicated on the fact that most awards show speeches are self-indulgent, rambling tributes to other celebrities, which is fine.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
Despite the mixed reception, the money counter was an earnest attempt to keep the show running on schedule, preventing one or two self-indulgent speakers from wrecking the running time.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
What felt different was how formerly personal (and occasionally self-indulgent) matters telescoped into broader concerns.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
As Black women face workforce trends like layoffs, burnout, and furloughs more acutely, which can impact mental and physical health, this mindset shift, ironically, underscores that soft living within a community context is a sustainable practice, not a self-indulgent one.
—Essence, 15 Aug. 2025
It can be used to crudely express boredom, annoyance or to signal that something is self-indulgent or lacking purpose.
—Sofi Zeman
august 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-indulgent
Adjective
-
The company’s eponymous founder, one of Charleston’s richest men, went on to build the city’s most luxurious hotel, the Mills House.—
Eugene Robinson,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2026
-
In Paris, Robbie slipped into a custom Chanel couture gown made of luxurious red velvet, with a corseted bodice, bustle, and flowing train—a piece that looks right off the set of the forthcoming film.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Angela is known for her confident, no-nonsense attitude and her sensual style, often seen on-screen in bikinis, or other tight, revealing and provocative outfits.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The experimental romantic comedy mixes sensual 16mm shots with intimate dialogue.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
At Tender, Whitney clashes with his more hedonistic co-founder Jonah (Kal Penn) and bosses around his assistant Haley (Kiernan Shipka).—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Tyler, the Creator’s Don’t Tap the Glass, ironically, is the least piercing and the most hedonistic, by design.—
Rolling Stone,
Rolling Stone,
29 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-indulgent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-indulgent. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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