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
Harrison has come under fire from the law enforcement ranks and families of crime victims who felt her punishments were too lenient.
—
Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 14 Oct. 2025
The laws regulating undercover operations are relatively lenient in Australia; in Canada, which has long used similar tactics, judges have challenged the targeting of suspects who are socially isolated or cognitively impaired.
—Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Bhad Bhabie seemingly responded to 6ix9ines allegations, referencing his cooperation in a federal RICO case against the Nine Trey Gangsters street gang in 2019 in exchange for a lenient prison sentence.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 13 Oct. 2025
The tragedy fueled the 2022 recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin, as critics accused him of being too lenient with repeat offenders.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 14 Oct. 2025
The laws regulating undercover operations are relatively lenient in Australia; in Canada, which has long used similar tactics, judges have challenged the targeting of suspects who are socially isolated or cognitively impaired.
—Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Bhad Bhabie seemingly responded to 6ix9ines allegations, referencing his cooperation in a federal RICO case against the Nine Trey Gangsters street gang in 2019 in exchange for a lenient prison sentence.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 13 Oct. 2025
The tragedy fueled the 2022 recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin, as critics accused him of being too lenient with repeat offenders.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenient
Adjective
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Its depictions of dancing devils and witches’ sabbaths are supposed to scare viewers straight, but writer-director Benjamin Christensen is also sympathetic towards the plight of medieval women persecuted for witchcraft.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
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Just as soon as cynical Cyrus vacates the passenger seat, Lee finds someone more sympathetic to ride shotgun.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Here, the researchers recommend a multidisciplinary, compassionate approach to NCGS intervention.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
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Clear goals, tracking, & communication between local agencies create a lasting, compassionate and impactful response to support the most vulnerable.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Coach Outlet is stocked with buttery-soft leather backpacks, stylish crossbody bags, and even small accessories, such as pocket-friendly card cases and sturdy luggage tags, all of which are up to 70 percent off their retail price.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
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The brand offers dozens of high-quality sheets in cozy, breathable fabrics at wallet-friendly prices.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Zubac outscored Guangzhou 12-10 in the paint by himself in the first half, and that was with Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue being merciful.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
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Not to be the guy to be merciful and fly out benignly to right field for the game’s final out.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Be Sympathetic In the days following daylight saving time, try to be more forgiving if your child is throwing extra temper tantrums or seems to be particularly frustrated or emotional.—
Dina Roth Port,
Parents,
28 Oct. 2025
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The Pete Dye–designed, 36-hole layout includes the famed Straits Course, which runs along two miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, and the Irish Course, its slightly more forgiving inland counterpart.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As the mid-Missouri heat and humidity finally subside, any outdoor activity—from the perfect wine picnic to a Katy Trail hike—is much more pleasant.—
Erika Ebsworth-Goold,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
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As America’s capital of both wine production and pleasant weather, California has any number of towns that capture this experience, each with distinguishing characteristics that suit different types of travelers.—
Justin Goldman,
AFAR Media,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Because of its unfortunate history, many patient deaths occurred, and many unsettled spirits still haunt The Crescent Hotel.—
Noreen Kompanik,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
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These everyday American rituals, as seen by Durst’s curious, patient eye, seem mysterious, unexpectedly loaded with significance.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Crafted from 100% cotton, the fabric delivers the soft stretch and cozy feel of your favorite T-shirt while being gentle on the skin.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Oct. 2025
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For this reason, tweens tend to prefer gifts that are popular or trending, like the viral Sol de Janeiro perfume or a starter skincare routine made with gentle ingredients that won’t stress out their young skin.—
Anja Webb,
Parents,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lenient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenient. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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