indulgently

IPA/ɪnˈdʌldʒəntli/
IPA/ɪnˈdʌldʒəntli/

indulgently — adverb

1. by letting someone do as they please and being too soft about their faults, even

1.adverbC1
Definition

by letting someone do as they please and being too soft about their faults, even when this does them no good

Example

Grandpa Eric smiled indulgently as the twins begged for a third bowl of ice cream.

smile + indulgently for fond, over-soft approval

The new teacher treated the loud back row indulgently, so they kept skipping their homework.

treat someone indulgently: being too lenient

Common collocations
  • smile indulgently
  • laugh indulgently
  • nod indulgently
  • treat someone indulgently
Synonyms
  • tolerantly

    more neutral; lacks the hint of being too soft

  • leniently

    stresses going easy on rules or punishment

  • permissively

    stresses allowing too much freedom, often of parents

Antonyms
  • strictly

    demanding firm rules and obedience

  • harshly

    treating someone with severity, not warmth

Grammar Patterns

smile/laugh + indulgently

indulgently + verb

Usage Note

Frequently pairs with verbs of expression like 'smile', 'laugh', or 'nod', signalling a warm but slightly superior tolerance of someone's faults or childish behaviour.

Common Mistakes

She praised the report indulgently.
She praised the report warmly.
'indulgently' implies over-tolerance of faults, not simple warm approval of good work.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four describe going easy on someone, but they differ in flavour. 'Indulgently' carries warmth mixed with a hint of being too soft — you let someone have their way and quietly overlook their faults, often with a fond smile, as a doting grandparent might. 'Tolerantly' is cooler and more neutral: you simply put up with something you may not like, without the affection. 'Leniently' focuses on rules and punishment — a judge or teacher who gives a light penalty acts leniently. 'Permissively' stresses allowing too much freedom, and is most often used of parents or rules. So a grandparent smiles indulgently, a referee may rule leniently, and an open-minded city treats newcomers tolerantly.

indulgently ↗tolerantly ↗leniently ↗permissively ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • smile indulgently
  • laugh indulgently
  • nod indulgently

Prepositions

  • indulgently at
  • indulgently towards

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Built from the adjective 'indulgent' plus the adverb ending '-ly'. 'Indulgent' goes back to the Latin verb 'indulgere', meaning to be kind, give in to, or grant a favour. The sense of being too soft or over-generous grew from the older idea of freely granting what someone asks for.