Indulgence (Noun)
Meaning 1
A disposition to yield to the wishes of someone; "too much indulgence spoils a child".
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- Her parents' indulgence had made her a spoiled and entitled teenager.
- The teacher's indulgence towards the misbehaving student only encouraged more bad behavior.
- Some critics argue that the government's indulgence towards big corporations has led to economic inequality.
- The manager's indulgence towards his favorite employee created resentment among the rest of the team.
- After years of indulgence, the parents realized that they had created a monster and had to set boundaries for their child.
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Meaning 2
The act of indulging or gratifying a desire.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
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Meaning 3
The remission by the pope of the temporal punishment in purgatory that is still due for sins even after absolution; "in the Middle Ages the unrestricted sale of indulgences by pardoners became a widespread abuse".
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The Catholic Church has historically taught that indulgences can be earned for oneself or for the dead, and that they can be granted through various means, such as prayer or fasting.
- During the Middle Ages, the sale of indulgences by pardoners became a lucrative business, leading to widespread abuse and corruption within the Church.
- The practice of granting indulgences was criticized by Martin Luther and other Protestant reformers, who argued that it undermined the doctrine of justification by faith alone.
- In response to these criticisms, the Catholic Church has reformed its teachings on indulgences, emphasizing that they are not a replacement for repentance and good works, but rather a means of obtaining mercy and forgiveness.
- Papal indulgences have continued to be granted throughout history, often in connection with jubilees or other special events, and are still granted today by the Catholic Church.
Hypernyms
Meaning 4
An inability to resist the gratification of whims and desires.
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- Her weakness for shopping was an indulgence that often left her broke at the end of the month.
- His love of fine dining was an indulgence he allowed himself only on special occasions.
- She couldn't resist the indulgence of buying a new pair of shoes every time she saw a sale.
- He gave in to the indulgence of playing video games all day, ignoring his looming deadlines.
- Her parents' indulgence of her every whim had spoiled her rotten as a child.
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Meaning 5
Foolish or senseless behavior.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- He threw away his entire savings on a lavish vacation, a reckless indulgence that left him financially strained for years to come.
- Her constant need for validation led to an indulgence in social media, where she spent hours scrolling through her feeds and comparing her life to others.
- The politician's indulgence in corruption and cronyism ultimately led to his downfall and loss of public trust.
- The company's indulgence in lavish spending on unnecessary perks and bonuses led to financial difficulties and layoffs.
- After being criticized for his poor time management, he realized that watching hours of TV every day was a mindless indulgence that was holding him back from achieving his goals.