lenient

adjective

Definition of lenientnext
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

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 Jones rejected his plea deal on July 2, 2024, for being too lenient for stalking and shooting a woman at least four times in November 2022, which sparked a tirade against the judge, court documents allege. — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 Best jumbo loan lenders right now FHA loans These are mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration — and because of that, the baseline requirements issued by the FHA are more lenient than mortgages not backed by the government. — Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 2 July 2026 The Republican National Committee (RNC) led the push to eliminate these states’ more lenient vote-by-mail laws. — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2026 For gardeners who have been slightly more lenient in their control efforts, this means that populations already present are now likely to become significantly more substantial, with a core breeding population already large to begin with. — Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lenient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenient
  1. sympathetic
  2. compassionate
  3. friendly
  4. merciful
  5. forgiving
  6. pleasant
  7. patient
  8. gentle
Adjective
  • Nakassis, who has spent his career studying the archaeological record of the Mycenaean and other early Greek civilizations, is sympathetic to the practical challenge a film production depicting the ancient world faces.
    — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026
  • And the freshman Democrat also sees his proposal as focused on a hugely sympathetic population of the American public.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of sympathetic
Adjective
  • However, patients such as those enrolled in this trial, doctors and others may contact the drug company with a request for compassionate use.
    — Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • The most compassionate thing a leader can do is make the right call with dignity.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of compassionate
Adjective
  • The real-estate people who stand to profit from conversion projects claim (unsurprisingly) that adding union-friendly requirements would make their math impossible, effectively killing a program that is already bearing fruit.
    — Andrew Rice, Curbed, 23 July 2026
  • But astronaut Stu Roosa started a friendly collaboration that spanned the country and continues today.
    — Cassidy Alexander, AJC.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of friendly
Adjective
  • Just when a dreadful day was approaching a merciful end, the chants from the remaining crowd at Citi Field poked fun at the New York Mets’ mess in a way boos cannot match with ridicule.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 25 June 2026
  • That painful night in Dallas now feels merciful, compared with what this Avs team just experienced.
    — Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 27 May 2026
Definition of merciful
Adjective
  • The Leftovers Where Storage Technique Matters Most Some leftovers are more forgiving than others.
    — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 12 July 2026
  • In just over half those states, the more forgiving deadlines apply only to ballots cast by military and overseas voters.
    — Mark Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
Definition of forgiving
Adjective
  • Counting businesses is easy, the count has been going up, and a rising number is a pleasant thing to publicize.
    — Aparna Rae, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • While the town itself is quite pleasant, Lake Tahoe is the crown jewel.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2026
Definition of pleasant
Adjective
  • Sellers are getting patient, and buyers are calling more of the shots than the headline numbers suggest.
    — Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 24 July 2026
  • Review social media posts Social media platforms and patient reviews can be a useful tool before visiting for a consultation.
    — Ella Moore July 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
Definition of patient
Adjective
  • Two of Latin alternative’s gentlest souls combine their heart-on-your-sleeve electronic and indie-folk impulses for a breezy, languorous collaborative record.
    — E.R. Pulgar, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
  • Underwater speakers played gentle music, bringing me back and signaling the hour was up.
    — Tim Neville, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2026
Definition of gentle

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Cite this Entry

“Lenient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenient. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of lenient for Spanish Speakers

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