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
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Four of the wins came via the eight-run mercy rule.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The game ended after seven innings on the 10-run mercy rule.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The word itself is defined as mercy or leniency.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
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Carter’s leniency was met with a Republican backlash.—
Alexander Nazaryan,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Given the patterns and findings detailed herein, this review should focus particularly on all acts of clemency.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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However, issuing clemency would require approval from governing bodies.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenity. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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