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
The parents also are concerned about whether discipline was issued fairly, claiming students from wealthy families or who are related to school employees received lenient punishments.
—
Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2026
Others have criticized the White House for taking a vindictive approach and targeting Democratic states that may have larger Medicaid populations and more lenient eligibility requirements.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The lenient return policy is a major perk of being a member.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Even that punishment would be too lenient.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2026
Others have criticized the White House for taking a vindictive approach and targeting Democratic states that may have larger Medicaid populations and more lenient eligibility requirements.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The lenient return policy is a major perk of being a member.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Even that punishment would be too lenient.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenient
Adjective
-
Once considered the definitive Monroe biography, Spoto’s thorough tome has been criticized for sometimes-unclear sourcing and being overly sympathetic.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
1 June 2026
-
The base is narrow, the lifespan is limited, the cause is sympathetic.—
Daniel Bunn,
Oc Register,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Back in 2014, the company secured FDA authorization for a compassionate-use protocol allowing the Hemopurifier to be used in up to 20 patients with Ebola across 10 clinical sites in the United States.—
Elie Dolgin,
IEEE Spectrum,
4 June 2026
-
Advice on relationships, family, work and everyday life with practical, compassionate guidance and a touch of humor.—
R Eric Thomas,
Baltimore Sun,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Museums, statues and sculptures dedicated to Andersen’s life and stories thread through cyclist- and pedestrian-friendly streets, giving the city a fairytale atmosphere that feels woven into the architecture itself.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2026
-
Salustri books a cottage at one of the last remaining mom-and-pop stays in Islamorada, White Gate Court, a pet-friendly collection of cottages with its own private beach.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
That painful night in Dallas now feels merciful, compared with what this Avs team just experienced.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
-
As the sun began to peek over the hillside, offering a merciful burst of warmth, Alonso Abugattas called this year’s Trillium Trek to order.—
Ashley Stimpson,
Washington Post,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
From yoga classes to the airport, these fluttery pants will keep you comfy for every activity with their forgiving rayon and spandex blend and sizes ranging from S to XL.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2026
-
While energy exports dominate national security briefings, agricultural inputs operate on a different and less forgiving timeline.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
The temptation to go with Krick’s more pleasant (and somehow more spiritually American) forecast is obviously great.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
-
Walker Buehler has been a pleasant and necessary surprise, even providing the Padres with the occasional quality start.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
The tracker takes heat illness data from patient complaints and doctor diagnoses provided by a countywide monitoring project that was previously available only to public health officials.—
Blanca Begert,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
The initiative standardizes and pays for a range of services, including remote patient monitoring, home meal delivery, and mobile obstetric services.—
Mary C. Mayhew,
Sun Sentinel,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Chongqing-style chicken rustling with red chiles, mapo tofu and gentle Hainan chicken rice check boxes for mass appeal.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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Her mother had been a schoolteacher and Boston had a teacher’s gentle manner and studious tone.—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lenient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenient. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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