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
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
Keep expectations lenient, and keep actions grounded.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
Critics are no longer holding back, openly questioning how many chances Woods should get, and whether golf’s governing bodies have been too lenient for too long.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
And insurance companies have not provided the money for remediation of dirt laced with high amounts of lead that tests above state safety levels and in some cases, higher than the more lenient federal standard.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lenient
James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Keep expectations lenient, and keep actions grounded.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
Critics are no longer holding back, openly questioning how many chances Woods should get, and whether golf’s governing bodies have been too lenient for too long.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
And insurance companies have not provided the money for remediation of dirt laced with high amounts of lead that tests above state safety levels and in some cases, higher than the more lenient federal standard.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenient
Adjective
-
Bahrain revoked citizenship from 69 individuals accused of being sympathetic to Iran.—
Dominic Dudley,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Several justices seemed sympathetic to the company’s argument that it can’t be sued under state law because federal regulators have found Roundup likely doesn’t cause cancer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Her personality was so engaging, made everyone feel seen, heard, cared for, compassionate, fair-minded.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
-
When delivered as intended, hospice remains one of the most compassionate and effective models of care in our healthcare system.—
Tom Koutsoumpas,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The two clubs share many similarities beyond playing a friendly in 2014 and doing business in the form of Nicola Sansone’s transfer a decade ago.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
-
The conversation will revisit favorite character moments from the series and give fans an inside look at the process of filming the animal-friendly period piece.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Would Homelander be merciful and spare just this one?—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The merciful end came three weeks after Sunderland’s surrender to relegation in May 2017.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Mercedes says the sedan can travel 472 miles on a single charge, but that estimate was reached using the more forgiving WLTP testing standard.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
20 Apr. 2026
-
But while gardening is a relatively forgiving process that can be adjusted over time, there are certain spring gardening do’s and don’ts that may dramatically alter the health of your plants and your garden for the entire growing season.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The day Chunhyang and Mongryong met each other for the first time was exceptionally pleasant.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
-
The fruit is sweet with pleasant, slightly tangy undertones.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
What happens when staying in school is no longer the sentimental choice, or the patient choice, but the best business decision available?—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
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Trump’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed excluding diagnoses added by an insurer who merely reviews patient records but never actually sees the patient.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Both are gentler than acetone and won’t dry your nails and cuticles out as much, making this pot a great choice for those with sensitive skin.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Cooked in a wood-burning oven, the chicken hums with a gentle smokiness and a complex, fruity chile flavor that’s warm, rounded and highly addictive.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lenient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenient. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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