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
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Recent Examples of lenient
Several popular live sellers, who spoke to The Athletic under the condition of anonymity to protect their relationship with Whatnot, believe the company has been too lenient when regulating sellers for rules violations on the platform.
—
Benjamin Burrows,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Better to have no recall powers than overly lenient ones.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
Republicans argued his approach was too lenient, while Allred emphasized a combination of enforcement and immigration reform.
—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
26 May 2026
But the timing windows on parries remain very lenient, and health pickups are plentiful.
—
Gabriel Zamora,
PC Magazine,
26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Benjamin Burrows,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Better to have no recall powers than overly lenient ones.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
Republicans argued his approach was too lenient, while Allred emphasized a combination of enforcement and immigration reform.
—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
26 May 2026
But the timing windows on parries remain very lenient, and health pickups are plentiful.
—
Gabriel Zamora,
PC Magazine,
26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenient
Adjective
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Leaders are constantly in a chronic, sympathetic-dominant state that, if not appropriately managed, can have downstream effects on their cardiovascular health, immune functioning, sleep, and even personal relationships.
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Jackson thought Colorado voters would be sympathetic to the state’s water crisis, caused by decades of drought and climate change.
Adjective
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At their best, Cancers are compassionate, loyal, intuitive and deeply devoted.
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And the Supreme Court's ruling says that this means those people'spunishments are not extraordinary or compelling, as the compassionate release program mandates.
Adjective
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The band had been denied the opportunity to perform during Haiti’s pre-World Cup friendly against Peru, despite the presence of a Peruvian band.
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Founded in 2008, FunnyFlux is a Korean animation studio creating family-friendly IP for global audiences.
Adjective
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That painful night in Dallas now feels merciful, compared with what this Avs team just experienced.
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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.
Adjective
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The World Cup’s new, forgiving format allows the top eight of the 12 third-place teams, like third-place South Korea (1-0-2), to move on to knockout play with as few as three points.
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When Argentina lost the opening game to Saudi Arabia in a smaller, less forgiving format, the stakes could not have been higher.
Adjective
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Bartlett’s posture is ramrod straight, his voice a pleasant, precise British lilt that’s nothing like his natural Australian accent.
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Dogs are welcome, and the shaded setting is a pleasant place to linger.
Adjective
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Be patient with kids and romantic partners, because squabbles might arise.
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Reducing friction often comes down to simple improvements such as online scheduling, prompt follow-up and easy access to key patient information.
Adjective
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Your gentle heart may crave recognition while your spirit needs quiet, so choose a smaller stage and keep the audience intimate.
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The cuticle is a barrier that protects the nail from bacteria, so a gentle push back is enough.
Cite this Entry
“Lenient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenient. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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