excessive indulgence

USAGE SUMMARY

"excessive indulgence" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe an amount of something that is over-indulgent or more than necessary. For example, "His excessive indulgence in sweets was to blame for his weight gain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Essentially this is Top Gear for food: a jokey, blokey exercise in excessive indulgence.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Bernard complained of the excessive indulgence in dialectic displayed by contemporaries such as Peter Abelard (1079 1142).

Britannica

Drinking little himself on these occasions, the dictator would encourage excessive indulgence in others, thus revealing weak points that he could exploit.

Encyclopedia Britannica

QUICK: Name the once-gorgeous superstar who's been savaged in the press for destroying her good looks, wasting her fortune and ruining her reputation with her "excessive indulgence in love, liquor, lust and laudanum".

The New York Times

These included 'caries in the teeth, excessive indulgence in smoking or chewing tobacco, disordered stomach, bowels, liver, kidney and uterus'.73 In other words, Hogg did not expect to see ocular pathology in these types of diseases despite their well-documented association with sudden loss of sight.

Nature

Convinced that masturbation led to insanity, and that it was the sensitive, responsive foreskin that stimulated masturbation, surgeons started promoting therapeutic circumcision to cure young men of the "sin" of excessive indulgence and prevent its corollary, "masturbatory insanity," a catchall phrase for various psychiatric and physical disorders that perplexed physicians.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

With public health experts speaking so often of an "obesity epidemic", we know ought to repent of our excessive indulgences.

The Guardian - Opinion

But in ancient Roman times, the volcanic lake southeast of Rome was the anchor point for Emperor Caligula's pleasure ships — massive and ornate barges that were rumored to be the sites of wild orgies and other excessive indulgences.

The Washington Post

In that remarkable bit of novelistic choreography, I saw in Miller what her fans have always seen: a clever storyteller with a penchant for the unexpected and a talent for depicting the bizarre borderline acts, the unfortunate boundary crossings and the regrettable instances of excessive self-indulgence that can destroy a world in a blink.

The New York Times

However, Sanger was opposed to excessive sexual indulgence.

Wikipedia

There was a history of excessive sexual indulgence in the early twenties with prostitutes and he had suffered repeatedly from sexually transmitted diseases characterised by discharges (probably gonorrhoea) and ulcers (probably syphilis).

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "excessive indulgence", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being overdone and why it is considered excessive. The term implies a negative consequence or lack of moderation.

Common error

Avoid using "excessive indulgence" when simply describing someone enjoying a treat or luxury in a moderate way. The phrase carries a connotation of something being overdone to a problematic degree.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive indulgence" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "excessive" modifies the noun "indulgence". As Ludwig AI pointed out, it describes a state of overdoing something pleasurable, often with negative connotations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excessive indulgence" is a grammatically correct noun phrase denoting a state of overdoing something pleasurable to a problematic degree. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While not exceptionally common, it appears more frequently in news articles and encyclopedic contexts. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates what is being overdone and the negative implications. Related phrases include "extreme self-indulgence" and "over-the-top extravagance". The key is to use it when there's an implication of something being overdone beyond healthy limits.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extreme self-indulgence

Increases the intensity of the indulgence, suggesting a more severe lack of restraint.

unrestrained self-gratification

Highlights the personal pleasure and lack of control in the act.

over-the-top extravagance

Shifts the focus to the lavish and showy aspect of exceeding limits.

gratuitous excess

Focuses on the unnecessary and unwarranted nature of the excess.

immoderate pleasure-seeking

Emphasizes the pursuit of pleasure without moderation.

unbridled hedonism

Emphasizes the unrestrained pursuit of pleasure as the primary goal.

rampant consumerism

Specifically addresses excessive consumption as the form of over-indulgence.

decadent lifestyle

Implies a decline in moral values due to excessive self-indulgence.

overboard pampering

Focuses on the act of spoiling or coddling excessively.

wanton luxury

Highlights the reckless and extravagant use of luxury.

FAQs

How can "excessive indulgence" be used in a sentence?

You can use "excessive indulgence" to describe overdoing something pleasurable. For instance, "His "excessive indulgence" in video games led to him failing his exams."

What are some alternatives to "excessive indulgence"?

Alternatives include "extreme self-indulgence", "over-the-top extravagance", or "unrestrained self-gratification", depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "excessive indulgence" and "self-care"?

"Excessive indulgence" implies overdoing something to a harmful extent, while self-care refers to healthy practices for well-being. The key difference is the potential for negative consequences.

Is "excessive indulgence" always negative?

Yes, the term ""excessive indulgence"" generally carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of moderation and potential harm or negative consequences resulting from the overdoing of something pleasurable.