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
Epstein served a 13-month sentence after pleading guilty in 2008 to a state-level prostitution charge as part of a deal now widely regarded as too lenient.
—
Luc Cohen, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
Some states are much more lenient than others, allowing drivers as young as 16 to obtain an unrestricted license.
—Charles Singh, The Tennessean, 18 Aug. 2025
Blanco wrote in the motion that the other defendants in the case testified against Patron during the trial to try to secure more lenient sentences.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Many buildings have become notably more lenient in some regard, allowing pieds-à-terre, financing (there are holdouts, like 812 Park), trusts, pets, and new money.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Luc Cohen, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
Some states are much more lenient than others, allowing drivers as young as 16 to obtain an unrestricted license.
—Charles Singh, The Tennessean, 18 Aug. 2025
Blanco wrote in the motion that the other defendants in the case testified against Patron during the trial to try to secure more lenient sentences.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Many buildings have become notably more lenient in some regard, allowing pieds-à-terre, financing (there are holdouts, like 812 Park), trusts, pets, and new money.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenient
Adjective
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With its buzzy energy and sympathetic — if bumbling — criminals, Lumet withholds crucial information from the viewer until the final portion of the film.—
Christina Newland,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
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The original novel includes material that’s sympathetic to the aims of the women’s movement.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In all of those cases, the patients had run out of other options, and the organs were transplanted not through a standard clinical trial, but under special rules that permit compassionate use of experimental therapies for people in especially dire situations.—
Nadia Kounang,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
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Pure techno-solutionism falls short; building compassionate, regenerative AI demands philosophical and ethical rigor alongside technical excellence.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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From art and music at the museum to Oktoberfest beers and block parties, the calendar is stacked with events that range from family-friendly to nightlife-ready.—
Tiffani Jackson Skinner,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
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The bootcut bottoms come in a petite-friendly 27-inch inseam, which, according to the product’s description, fits those 5-foot-3 and under.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Eventually, when the game came to a merciful close, attention turned back to the health of Guerrero.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
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Founded in the mid-19th century as a grocery store in Greenwich Village, the bar retains a patina of its early years—the dim interior, wood walls, the merciful lack of thunka-thunk music.—
Harrison Hill,
AFAR Media,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The film highlights that people are more than one thing, encouraging a more holistic outlook that is inherently more forgiving and less judgmental.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
29 Aug. 2025
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Fortunately, today’s fashion rules are far more forgiving, and crisp whites are fair game all year.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Sinner had left the court for a medical timeout after losing the second set, and was sweating heavily from the first set onward on a pleasant 77-degree evening.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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The fact that people actually read it — that now, TFD is a fully-fledged media company with a staff of eight and a monthly audience of over 3 million women — came as a pleasant surprise.—
Chelsea Fagan,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Be patient and calm, Work zones are not there to inconvenience you.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Newsweek has created a map showing which hospitals have the highest patient revenue per capita, after new analysis by a personal injury firm.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The rest of the movie goes on to explain how, and a bit why, such a seemingly gentle woman could do such an absolutely awful thing.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
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Household glass cleaners like Windex are formulated to be more gentle on your windows and other glass surfaces.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lenient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenient. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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