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
-
Sturm then gave Swayman the mercy pull, which frankly could have happened after the disastrous first.—
Stephen Conroy,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
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Leading only 3-0 after 3, the Owls brought up 16 batters to the plate and scored 11 runs, 8 with 2 outs, in the bottom fourth to activate the mercy rule.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Graves’s letter asked for leniency from the court as DeValkenaere was beginning his appeal.—
Ben Wheeler
May 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 May 2026
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As written, the chatbot bill would give too much leniency to tech companies, Montoya said.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There were reports last week that she might be transferred to house arrest as part of the clemency, but there was no confirmation from the government.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
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Over months of reporting, Marcus spoke with dozens of clemency recipients, lawyers, historians, and the consultants offering clients their pardon expertise.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenity. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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