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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lenient
The driver was recently sentenced to 18 years in prison as part of a plea bargain agreement, which some law enforcement personnel said was too lenient.
—
Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 5 May 2025
These steps signal a return to pre-pandemic enforcement and a shift away from the more lenient policies under the Biden administration.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025
The day was perfect, the sky offensively blue, the sun high but lenient on the skin.
—Nelson C.j., New York Times, 4 May 2025
Boeing is trying to withdraw a plea agreement and obtain more lenient treatment from the Trump administration in a case involving two deadly 737 Max crashes, The Wall Street Journal reported today.
—Ars Technica, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 5 May 2025
These steps signal a return to pre-pandemic enforcement and a shift away from the more lenient policies under the Biden administration.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025
The day was perfect, the sky offensively blue, the sun high but lenient on the skin.
—Nelson C.j., New York Times, 4 May 2025
Boeing is trying to withdraw a plea agreement and obtain more lenient treatment from the Trump administration in a case involving two deadly 737 Max crashes, The Wall Street Journal reported today.
—Ars Technica, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenient
Adjective
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On social media, where content creators have been dissecting the case, some commenters have been distressingly sympathetic to Diddy’s defense.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2025
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There’s not a single sympathetic White character in the film.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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For 55 years, the characters of Sesame Street have taught us how to count, how to read — and as importantly, how to be kind, empathic and compassionate.—
Afdhel Aziz,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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Here’s to more humane, efficient and compassionate processes in the future crafted by politicians on both sides of the aisle.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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During public remarks in 2022, Justice Elena Kagan – one of the court’s three liberal justices − spoke out against sweeping injunctions and the ability of challengers to find one friendly judge to issue such an order.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
12 May 2025
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Hussain has a friendly, reassuring presence, making the already-simple recipes even less intimidating.—
Katie Rife,
EW.com,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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The Celtics’ first-round slugfest came to a merciful end Tuesday night at TD Garden.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2025
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To the relief of everybody, weeks of rumors/subterfuge/smokescreens/innuendo come to a merciful end.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Now 28 years old, Dickinson joins an emerging generation of British filmmakers who came of age against the U.K. government’s punishing austerity program of the 2010s onward, with its accompanying reduction in welfare and social services, and aren’t inclined toward a forgiving view.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
19 May 2025
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But that would be too easy — and far too forgiving.—
Jack Hill,
Baltimore Sun,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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But overall, this affordable bed frame offers a good mix of pleasant aesthetics and practical storage solutions.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
15 May 2025
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If busier weekends someday mean parking an extra block away, that will be a pleasant problem to solve.—
Belal Aftab,
Mercury News,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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These tasks obviously require patient interaction, customization and hands-on adjustments that AI cannot fully automate.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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But Stewart, who reviewed patient files and testimony from mental health professionals and spoke with staff and people in custody, found such efforts were falling short.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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Including Marcelo and his kid, all three of the film’s rival factions are father-son teams, a choice that highlights Filho’s gentle emphasis on the relationship between lineage and identity — and the defiant notion that history is as hard to erase as DNA.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
18 May 2025
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The story is like a gentle hug, wrapping you up in a sense of comfort and contentment.—
American Booksellers Association,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lenient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenient. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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