Meaning & use
nonindulgent
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivenot comparable
Not allowing yourself or others to have things that are considered pleasures or luxuries.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.
Patterns
- nonindulgent parent
- nonindulgent lifestyle
- be nonindulgent about something
Her nonindulgent approach to parenting meant no sweets except on birthdays.
They led a nonindulgent life, saving every penny for their children's education.
The coach was nonindulgent about junk food during training season.
adjectivenot comparable
Not giving in to desires or weaknesses; strict in self-control.
Grammar: Often describes a person's character or a policy.
Patterns
- nonindulgent attitude
- nonindulgent policy
- remain nonindulgent
His nonindulgent attitude toward spending kept the company out of debt.
The school has a nonindulgent policy on mobile phones during lessons.
She remained nonindulgent even when offered a free upgrade.
Common combinations
- nonindulgent parent
- A nonindulgent parent rarely buys expensive toys on a whim.
- nonindulgent lifestyle
- Their nonindulgent lifestyle included no alcohol and no foreign holidays.
- nonindulgent attitude
- His nonindulgent attitude to work left little time for fun.
- nonindulgent policy
- The company's nonindulgent policy on expenses saved thousands.
- remain nonindulgent
- Even after winning the lottery, he remained nonindulgent.
Synonyms and how they differ
- strict
- Strict is more common and can refer to rules or people; nonindulgent specifically means not allowing pleasures.
- austere
- Austere suggests a lack of comfort or decoration, while nonindulgent focuses on not giving in to desires.
- self-denying
- Self-denying emphasizes giving up things you enjoy; nonindulgent can also describe policies or parents.
Opposites
Word family
- indulgent adjective
- Giving in to what someone wants, often too easily.
- indulgence noun
- The act of allowing yourself something enjoyable.
- indulge verb
- To allow yourself or someone else to have something pleasant.
Commonly confused: nonindulgent or indulgent?
nonindulgent vs indulgent
Indulgent means the opposite: allowing pleasures. Nonindulgent adds the prefix non- to mean not doing that.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'nonindulgent' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 correctly describes a person who does not allow herself pleasures. Option 1 is wrong because 'nonindulgent' describes a person or policy, not a feeling after overeating. Option 2 uses it as a verb, which is incorrect. Option 3 contradicts the meaning of the word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “nonindulgent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.