as in mercy
kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it
a social critic who argues that judicial lenity is chiefly to blame for the increased criminality that plagues us
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Recent Examples of lenity
Twelve judges sided with Cargill and concluded that the definition of machine gun was ambiguous enough to invoke a legal principle known as the rule of lenity, which requires courts to interpret unclear criminal laws in a way that's most favorable to the defendant.
—
Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2024
The majority’s treatment of the rule of lenity also strikes a slightly sour note.
—The Insider, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2021
If the rule of lenity applies here, then Butler should not be charged with a hate crime.
—Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine, 25 Apr. 2017
Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2024
The majority’s treatment of the rule of lenity also strikes a slightly sour note.
—The Insider, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2021
If the rule of lenity applies here, then Butler should not be charged with a hate crime.
—Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine, 25 Apr. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenity
Noun
-
How could the government just snatch the family’s patriarch and then leave him to a winter night’s mercy?—
Dan Barry,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
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Despite finishing with a dismal 20-62 record and sharing the league-best lottery odds, the ping-pong balls offered no mercy.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The defense presented letters asking for leniency, while a pastor described Richins as active in jail programs.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
-
Securing your recovery The insurance system offers zero leniency to those who miss deadlines.—
Ascend Agency,
New York Daily News,
11 May 2026
Noun
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After clemency was denied, Glossip’s attorneys filed for a stay of execution with the Supreme Court.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
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On Friday, Polis said in her clemency application Peters admitted to making a mistake, which is not something she's publicly stated.—
Bente Birkeland,
NPR,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenity. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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