as in sympathetic
allowing a lot of freedom and not punishing bad behavior in a strong way
a teacher who is lenient with students who have misbehaved The public was outraged by the lenient sentence the corrupt banker received.
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Recent Examples of lenient
The lenient return policy is a major perk of being a member.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Even that punishment would be too lenient.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
The president’s lenient tack on some mind-altering drugs ushers in a new world of right-wing drug policy.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 23 Apr. 2026
Hochman has faced criticism for his handling of police use-of-force cases, with some questioning his decisions to offer lenient plea deals and dismiss charges against several officers.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Even that punishment would be too lenient.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
The president’s lenient tack on some mind-altering drugs ushers in a new world of right-wing drug policy.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 23 Apr. 2026
Hochman has faced criticism for his handling of police use-of-force cases, with some questioning his decisions to offer lenient plea deals and dismiss charges against several officers.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenient
Adjective
-
In a trial featuring a clash between Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, neither of the tech titans has emerged as an overly sympathetic character.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
-
The film provides further complexity by not making Bear a sympathetic victim but rather complicit by initially enjoying Nikki’s affections despite their artificial provenance.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Similarly, while conversational agents can reflect compassionate language, genuine compassion comes from a place of concern.—
Steve D. Klein,
STAT,
14 May 2026
-
Advice on relationships, family, work and everyday life with practical, compassionate guidance and a touch of humor.—
R Eric Thomas,
Baltimore Sun,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said his new government has summoned the Russian ambassador over a drone attack near Hungary’s border, in a significant shift from his predecessor Viktor Orbán’s friendly relations with Moscow.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
There’s a friendly reception area with a giant chalkboard informing guests of local events, ranging from in-house parties to full moon nights at the Acropolis and big name gigs by the touring artists.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
As the sun began to peek over the hillside, offering a merciful burst of warmth, Alonso Abugattas called this year’s Trillium Trek to order.—
Ashley Stimpson,
Washington Post,
11 May 2026
-
Would a just and merciful God approve of what is happening?—
Kenneth Seeskin,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Hull suggests going for softer and more forgiving shades of white, like off-whites or warm whites.—
Asia London Palomba,
The Spruce,
12 May 2026
-
This charming member of the asparagus family is a forgiving choice for those new to houseplants.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
But as the evidence mounts, scientists continue to puzzle over the pleasant surprise—how are vaccines that target specific pathogens inadvertently shielding our minds from deterioration?—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
-
Last year, against the Minnesota Frost, was a bit more of a pleasant surprise after a one-goal regular season campaign by Leslie, who spent two seasons between Toronto and Ottawa as a useful depth player.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Union officials announced their intention to go on strike one month ago to allow UC to prepare for potential disruptions to patient services given the size of the labor group.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
-
In addiction medicine, this type of frequent patient contact would be invaluable for informational purposes as well as successful adherence to treatment plans.—
Steve D. Klein,
STAT,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Not to mention, prepping skin with a brush instead of hands can be more hygienic and gentler on the skin barrier.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
14 May 2026
-
Our top choice, Purely Northwest Tea Tree Body Wash, is a gentle, skin-friendly option that relies on the former.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lenient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenient. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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