being too indulgent with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "being too indulgent with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone who is overly lenient or permissive towards another person or situation. Example: "She was being too indulgent with her children, allowing them to stay up late and eat junk food."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Some would accuse Ferguson of being too indulgent with his errant star, but in many ways I admire his stance and loyalty to his players.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Yet, while the UK is publicly very proud of our investment in research for science and innovation, we are petrified of being seen to be too indulgent with creatives and the arts.

The Guardian

The Democrats and the congressional black caucus were too indulgent to Mr Aristide, whereas the Republicans were in cahoots with some of his dodgier opponents.

The Economist

She's too indulgent of us, especially of me.

The New Yorker

Indeed, many think that Britain is too indulgent of the protest ethic.

The Economist

If he is too indulgent, his story will collapse into sentiment; if too contemptuous, it dries up and becomes sociology.

The New Yorker

In general, Mr. da Silva has sought to avoid clashes with the military, which has kindled some criticism that he has been too indulgent of the armed forces.

The New York Times

He also said he had thought about resigning but then decided it would have been too "indulgent" to do so.

The New York Times

Yes, we may be too indulgent.

Huffington Post

In short, they are being too nice and over-indulgent.

The Guardian

We love them guiltily and temporarily, before concluding they're too silly, too indulgent, too frivolous and too ditzy – primary-colour treats for young people and amateur drinkers.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "being too indulgent with", consider the specific context and whether a more direct or common phrase might be more effective for clarity and impact. For example, if discussing parenting, "spoiling" might be more concise.

Common error

Avoid consistently using passive constructions like "being too indulgent with" if active voice alternatives provide clearer and more impactful writing. Consider rephrasing to emphasize who is being indulgent: "The parents were too indulgent with their children."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being too indulgent with" functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating that someone is exhibiting excessive leniency or permissiveness towards another person or a situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "being too indulgent with" is a grammatically sound way to describe someone who is excessively lenient or permissive. While Ludwig AI affirms its correctness, its usage is relatively rare, appearing primarily in news and media contexts. Alternative phrases like "being overly permissive with" or "being excessively lenient with" may offer more common or direct ways to convey the same idea. When using this phrase, consider whether a more concise or active voice construction would enhance clarity and impact. Avoid overusing passive constructions. The most authoritative sources employing this phrase include The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

being overly permissive with

Replaces "indulgent" with "permissive", emphasizing the allowance of behavior.

being excessively lenient with

Substitutes "indulgent" with "lenient", highlighting a lack of strictness.

being too easy on

Uses a more informal and direct expression.

spoiling

Conveys the idea of excessive indulgence leading to negative consequences.

mollycoddling

Implies overprotection and excessive care.

being soft on

Suggests a lack of firmness or discipline.

turning a blind eye to

Focuses on ignoring or overlooking negative behavior.

giving too much leeway to

Emphasizes granting excessive freedom or flexibility.

being overly tolerant of

Highlights excessive acceptance of undesirable behavior.

being far too accommodating to

Indicates an excessive willingness to please or comply.

FAQs

What does "being too indulgent with" mean?

It means to be overly lenient or permissive with someone, often to a degree that may be considered detrimental or inappropriate. It suggests a lack of necessary discipline or boundaries.

What are some alternatives to "being too indulgent with"?

You can use alternatives such as "being overly permissive with", "being excessively lenient with", or "spoiling" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "being too indulgent with" grammatically correct?

Yes, "being too indulgent with" is grammatically correct, but it's not the most common way to express the idea of being overly lenient. There might be more concise alternatives depending on the context.

How can I use "being too indulgent with" in a sentence?

Example: "The manager was being too indulgent with the underperforming employee, failing to address their persistent lateness and missed deadlines."