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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lenient
After all, the White House has taken a far more lenient approach than the Biden administration.
—
Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Before accepting the agreement, Leon County Judge Stephen Everett noted letters sent by domestic violence advocates who urged him to reject the plea deal as too lenient on Carr.
—Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 5 Jan. 2026
The hypepriests of years prior might now appear tepid, too lenient, not sufficiently trad or tough-on-sin.
—Sam Kestenbaum, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
Considering the sentence here was for 90 years and a maximum fine, there should be no question that this mitigating evidence would have resulted in a more lenient punishment.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Before accepting the agreement, Leon County Judge Stephen Everett noted letters sent by domestic violence advocates who urged him to reject the plea deal as too lenient on Carr.
—Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 5 Jan. 2026
The hypepriests of years prior might now appear tepid, too lenient, not sufficiently trad or tough-on-sin.
—Sam Kestenbaum, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
Considering the sentence here was for 90 years and a maximum fine, there should be no question that this mitigating evidence would have resulted in a more lenient punishment.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenient
Adjective
-
Andrew begins to feel both sympathetic and longing for Millie and leaves Nina for the maid.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Although its questions framed the scandal with wording sympathetic to Republicans, the survey suggests the GOP sees an opening that could drag down Democrats.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
These metrics, Cherry notes, help illustrate how meaningful, clear, and compassionate communication can be for families during a difficult time.—
Kaitlyn Gomez,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Your compassionate touch keeps excitement alive without overextending anyone involved.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Ross records Renee's friendly, smiling face through her open window.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Jan. 2026
-
In honor of the long weekend, the section is overflowing with travel-friendly steals, with discounts up to 76 percent off on everything from comfortable shoes and luggage sets to practical travel accessories.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And what seemed most probably was a blip ultimately dominoed into the disillusioning 2025 season that will come to a merciful end on Sunday in Las Vegas.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
1 Jan. 2026
-
This was seen by the founders as a merciful act, stemming from the tradition of old English law.—
Stewart Ulrich,
The Conversation,
15 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Care Instructions Despite their forgiving reputation, these tropical plants have specific needs.—
Rachel Gillett,
Martha Stewart,
29 Dec. 2025
-
Pork shoulder is such a forgiving cut of meat.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Tuesday is shaping-up to be the nicest weather day this week and possibly the most pleasant day for a while.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The wonders of Arenal can be enjoyed year-round, but the weather is significantly more pleasant in the dry season, which typically runs from December to April.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Jeffrey Tully, an anesthesiology professor at the University of California, San Diego, and a researcher in the health care cybersecurity field, said that tech outages can cause delays in patient care, which cause worse health outcomes.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
-
In our discussion, Hollinger weighs in on whether Detroit should go all-in or operate with an opportunistic mindset; how patient the Pistons should be with guard Jaden Ivey; Detroit’s path to converting Daniss Jenkins’ two-way contract; the future of veteran forward Tobias Harris and more.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Don’t let the cream’s $8 price tag fool you; the anti-aging find tackles fine lines, wrinkles, and clogged pores, all while being gentle enough for all skin types.—
Isabel Bekele,
InStyle,
16 Jan. 2026
-
The gentle support helps keep legs from feeling heavy after hours of sitting, walking, and moving between destinations.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lenient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenient. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
