indulgence
noun
in·dul·gence
in-ˈdəl-jən(t)s 
1
a
: the act of indulging in something
especially
: self-indulgence
b
: something indulged in
walk off gastronomic indulgences—
Barbara L. Michaels
Barbara L. Michaels2
a
: an indulgent act
b
: an extension of time for payment or performance granted as a favor
4
: 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)
Synonyms
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
Neighborhood Passkey The Whitney Hotel, a 65-room luxe property in Boston’s Beacon Hill, offers a haven apart from the urban hustle with all the refined comforts and indulgences of home.
—Roger Sands, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024
Their sweetness and acidity play beautifully with savory indulgences from truffles to caviar to oysters.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2024
Throughout rock and pop history, musicians have been undone by ambition and creative indulgence, but Billy Corgan has long thrived on both.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2024
After a triumphant return to spending during the back-to-school season in 2021 and 2022, parents took a step back from spending on indulgences in the face of inflation last season, a trend that experts say will continue this year.
—Alexandra Pastore, WWD, 19 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for indulgence 
Roger Sands, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024
Their sweetness and acidity play beautifully with savory indulgences from truffles to caviar to oysters.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2024
Throughout rock and pop history, musicians have been undone by ambition and creative indulgence, but Billy Corgan has long thrived on both.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2024
After a triumphant return to spending during the back-to-school season in 2021 and 2022, parents took a step back from spending on indulgences in the face of inflation last season, a trend that experts say will continue this year.
—Alexandra Pastore, WWD, 19 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for indulgence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'indulgence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Indulgence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indulgence. Accessed 16 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
indulgence
noun
in·dul·gence
in-ˈdəl-jən(t)s
1
: the act of indulging : the state of being indulgent
2
: an indulgent act
3
: something indulged in
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