as in flexible
often disapproving
giving people a lot of freedom or too much freedom to do what they want to do
permissive parents Some states have more permissive laws than others.
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Recent Examples of permissive
And those who find Georgia’s gun laws too permissive say installing weapon detectors everywhere is a form of surrender, accepting that society will be awash in guns and violence.
—
Jeff Amy, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
And those who find Georgia's gun laws too permissive say installing weapons detectors everywhere is a form of surrender, accepting that society will be awash in guns and violence.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Unlike states that never allowed changes to gender markers, Kansas’ move is a striking reversal of its prior permissive policy.
—Darren Rosenblum, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
The report also showed that regulators had allowed more than 1,400 other older injection wells to operate for decades without any limits whatsoever on injection pressures or volumes — grandfathered in from an earlier era of permissive oversight.
—Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Jeff Amy, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
And those who find Georgia's gun laws too permissive say installing weapons detectors everywhere is a form of surrender, accepting that society will be awash in guns and violence.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Unlike states that never allowed changes to gender markers, Kansas’ move is a striking reversal of its prior permissive policy.
—Darren Rosenblum, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
The report also showed that regulators had allowed more than 1,400 other older injection wells to operate for decades without any limits whatsoever on injection pressures or volumes — grandfathered in from an earlier era of permissive oversight.
—Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for permissive
Adjective
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Fridge foraging is flexible by design, built around a few adaptable formats that absorb nearly any combination of ingredients.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Designed for all-day wear, these clogs have a foam insole with moderate cushioning and a supportive, flexible outsole.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Though Fleury turned over the net to Gustavsson and Wallstedt on the ice, the 41-year-old with the second-most wins in NHL history has stayed around the team this season as a practice goalie and with an informal front office role as a player development advisor.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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The site plan for 1st Street Farms includes a range of outdoor amenities such as a multi-use turf field designed for youth sports and community programming, landscaped gardens and walking paths, and open green space for informal recreation and seasonal events.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Hochman has faced criticism for his handling of police use-of-force cases, with some questioning his decisions to offer lenient plea deals and dismiss charges against several officers.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Keep expectations lenient, and keep actions grounded.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Our goal is to create a space that is consistently safe and accessible for students.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The tool is accessible anywhere on your computer through a keyboard shortcut.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Lawmakers from both parties and outside critics accused the agency of lax oversight of drilling and cozy ties with industry.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Apr. 2026
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The lax regulation of prediction markets reminds many analysts of the late 1920s.—
Kelli María Korducki,
thehustle.co,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Permissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/permissive. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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