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
-
But for your prayers and his mercy.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Grant me ruthless access to the psychological image, discomfortable mercy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At her father's sentencing in July 2025, Rhianna Stephens made an emotional appeal for leniency.—
Sarah Prior,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
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Rigetti has a track record of delays, so the market may not afford them much leniency if things go off course.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Holmes’s potential commutation would follow the trend of the president’s recent clemency toward those convicted of white-collar crimes.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
23 Jan. 2026
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The White House is sifting through thousands of clemency requests, including a pardon bid by Archegos Capital Management founder Bill Hwang, who was convicted over the collapse of his $36 billion family office.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenity. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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