clemency

clem·en·cy

noun \ˈkle-mən(t)-sē\

plural clem·en·cies

Definition of CLEMENCY

1

a : disposition to be merciful and especially to moderate the severity of punishment due

b : an act or instance of leniency

2

: pleasant mildness of weather

Examples of CLEMENCY

1. The President has granted clemency to several people this month.
2. <the judge chose to show clemency to the truly repentant embezzler>

First Known Use of CLEMENCY

15th century

Related to CLEMENCY

Synonyms

charity, mercy, forbearance, lenience, leniency, lenity, mercifulness, quarter

Related Words

humanitarianism, philanthropy; empathy, pity, sympathy, understanding; commiseration, favor, grace; benevolence, care, compassion, gentleness, goodness, goodwill, humaneness, kindliness, kindness, meekness, mildness, niceness, softness, tenderness; altruism, generosity, magnanimity, nobility; affection, devotion, love, worship

Near Antonyms

hard-heartedness, mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness, uncharitableness; reprisal, requital, retaliation, retribution, revenge, vengeance; venom, vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol; atrocity, barbarity, brutality, cruelty, sadism, savageness, savagery, truculence, viciousness, violence, wantonness; castigation, chastisement, discipline, punishment, scolding; abhorrence, abomination, detestation, execration, hate, hatred, loathing; cattiness, malevolence, malice, maliciousness, malignancy, malignity, meanness, nastiness, spite, spitefulness, spleen; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, enmity, gall, grudge, hostility, jealousy, pique, resentment; bile, jaundice, rancor; hatefulness, invidiousness; coarseness, hardness, harshness, roughness

See Synonym Discussion at mercy