indulgence
indulgence — noun
1. Letting yourself enjoy a pleasure or treat even though you know it may not be he
Letting yourself enjoy a pleasure or treat even though you know it may not be healthy, necessary, or wise — for instance, spending a whole afternoon reading a novel when you have chores waiting.
Mateo's only indulgence was a weekly chess game with his neighbor, deadlines or not.
possessive + 'only' + indulgence: a person's sole treat
Olivia decided that a piece of dark chocolate after dinner was an indulgence worth keeping.
collocation: indulgence worth keeping
For someone on a tight budget, a monthly massage feels like an expensive indulgence.
Talia considered buying the silk scarf an affordable indulgence for her birthday.
A hot bath with candles was the only indulgence Mira allowed during exam week.
- treat
more informal and suggests something occasional and shared, e.g. buying yourself a coffee as a treat
- luxury
focuses on high quality and expense, not necessarily guilt; a luxury hotel is not an indulgence
- extravagance
stronger sense of wastefulness and excess; carries more disapproval than indulgence
- self-indulgence
more negative than indulgence, emphasizing weakness of will rather than an occasional pleasure
- deprivation
the state of being denied pleasures or basic comforts
文法句型
[possessive] indulgence
something is an indulgence
用法筆記
Frequently preceded by a possessive adjective (my indulgence, his indulgence) or used in the pattern '[something] is an indulgence.' Common in the phrase 'worth the indulgence.'
常見錯誤
2. A willingness to forgive someone's mistakes or bad behavior rather than punishin
A willingness to forgive someone's mistakes or bad behavior rather than punishing or criticizing them — for example, a parent overlooking a broken window because the child was trying to help.
The teacher showed indulgence toward the late assignment because the student had been sick.
show indulgence toward [something]
Devika's friends treated her indulgence as kindness, not weakness, when she forgave their broken promises.
Grandparents often treat their grandchildren with an indulgence they never showed their own children.
Ayana was surprised by her manager's indulgence when she admitted to missing the project deadline.
- leniency
very close in meaning but suggests the person in authority had the power to punish and chose not to
- forbearance
more formal; emphasizes patience and restraint in the face of provocation
- tolerance
broader in meaning; can refer to accepting different opinions or customs, not just overlooking faults
- strictness
insisting on rules being followed without exception
- severity
harsh or strict treatment of mistakes
文法句型
show indulgence toward [someone/something]
treat [someone] with indulgence
用法筆記
Often paired with the preposition 'toward' (indulgence toward someone) or 'with' (treat someone with indulgence). This sense is more formal than sense 1 and typically describes a superior's attitude toward a subordinate's fault.
常見錯誤
3. Within Catholic teaching, a Church-authorized reduction of the penalty still owe
Within Catholic teaching, a Church-authorized reduction of the penalty still owed for sins already confessed and absolved — earned through prayer, charitable deeds, or a papal decree.
In medieval times, many Christians bought indulgences hoping to reduce their time in purgatory.
The priest said indulgences could be gained by praying or visiting a holy place.
passive: indulgence could be gained by [action]
Pope Urban II promised a plenary indulgence to everyone who joined the First Crusade.
Devout pilgrims journeyed to Rome during the Jubilee year to receive a special indulgence.
- absolution
the forgiveness of sin itself through confession, not the remission of punishment
- remission
a more general term for cancellation of a debt or penalty; not specific to Catholic theology
文法句型
gain/receive an indulgence
grant an indulgence
plenary indulgence
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'absolution' (the forgiveness of guilt through confession). An indulgence concerns the temporal punishment that remains even after absolution has been granted. This sense is almost entirely confined to Catholic theology and church history.