self-indulgence

noun

self-in·​dul·​gence ˌself-in-ˈdəl-jən(t)s How to pronounce self-indulgence (audio)
: excessive or unrestrained gratification of one's own appetites, desires, or whims
self-indulgent adjective
self-indulgently adverb

Examples of self-indulgence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web With that victory, however, came overconfidence and self-indulgence, and in recent years the NRA has been mired in distracting controversy. David Harsanyi, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024 Looking after your physical well-being isn’t self-indulgence. Rachel Wilkerson Miller, SELF, 1 Jan. 2024 When did such a holiday that used to connect families and communities become a night of opportunistic self-indulgence? Faith Barton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023 Our collection brims with items curated to cater to every whim, whether gifting joy or a little self-indulgence. Kristi Arnold, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023 In the past, Drake would couch this sort of self-indulgence and acidity between unimpeachable pop hits, impassioned freestyles, and playful genre experimentations. Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2023 Getting a lot of sleep is virtuous (wellness, leisure) and also objectionable (self-indulgence, indolence). Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 12 Oct. 2023 Today the big businesses of self-care and self-indulgence fill the infinite space of the digital kingdom. Dominic Green, WSJ, 3 Oct. 2023 Shocking self-indulgence sits cheek by jowl with self-denial. Tobi Haslett, Harper's Magazine, 18 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-indulgence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1636, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-indulgence was in 1636

Dictionary Entries Near self-indulgence

Cite this Entry

“Self-indulgence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-indulgence. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

self-indulgence

noun
self-in·​dul·​gence
ˌsel-fin-ˈdəl-jən(t)s
: the quality or state of being self-indulgent

More from Merriam-Webster on self-indulgence

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