as in mercy
kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it
a judge's reputation for lenience towards first-time criminals
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Recent Examples of lenience
Experts say this level of lenience can lead to rebellion, risk-prone temperament, and unhealthy habits.
—
Zara Hanawalt, Parents, 29 Sep. 2024
Trilogy pulled through because of customers who went out of their way to support the business and order food to-go, the landlord’s lenience with rent, the PPP funding, its outdoor space and the health focus of her business at a time when health was on everyone’s mind.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025
Conservative applicants also voiced concern about liberal LGBTQ laws and lenience on crime.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024
Experts say this level of lenience can lead to rebellion, risk-prone temperament, and unhealthy habits.
—Zara Hanawalt, Parents, 29 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lenience
Zara Hanawalt, Parents, 29 Sep. 2024
Trilogy pulled through because of customers who went out of their way to support the business and order food to-go, the landlord’s lenience with rent, the PPP funding, its outdoor space and the health focus of her business at a time when health was on everyone’s mind.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025
Conservative applicants also voiced concern about liberal LGBTQ laws and lenience on crime.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024
Experts say this level of lenience can lead to rebellion, risk-prone temperament, and unhealthy habits.
—Zara Hanawalt, Parents, 29 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lenience
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenience
Noun
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In many cases, core systems and procurement processes are not yet fully operational or are at the mercy of the former parent company, making traditional supplier onboarding a challenge.—
Simon Wells,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
Shelia was then sentenced to life behind bars with mercy, a West Virginia law which grants juvenile offenders the possibility of parole after 15 years.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
6 July 2025
Noun
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Brooklyn Federal Court Judge William Kuntz handed down a 12-year and three month sentence to gun dealer Raymond Minaya Tuesday, rejecting the 29-year-old defendant’s plea for leniency, but stopping short of the more than 15 years prosecutors had sought.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
24 June 2025
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While some investors are willing to lend him some leniency on timing and the exact details, many want concrete signs of progress.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lenience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenience. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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