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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of permissive
For them, a highly permissive interpretation of free-speech law gives cover to racists, and a permissive interpretation of the principle of academic freedom allows for the perpetuation of exclusionary scholarship.
—
Louis Menand, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
Very permissive, very liberated, radical, allowed to follow any impulse, no matter how strange.
—Ramin Setoodeh, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
Many also realize that permissive attitudes around drug use can put their non-substance using employees, not to mention the general public, at risk.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
As federal grants disappear and career prospects dim, our most promising scientists and engineers in cyber-critical fields will inevitably seek opportunities in other friendly and permissive countries with stable research funding and a strong national commitment.
—Denis Mandich, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Louis Menand, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
Very permissive, very liberated, radical, allowed to follow any impulse, no matter how strange.
—Ramin Setoodeh, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
Many also realize that permissive attitudes around drug use can put their non-substance using employees, not to mention the general public, at risk.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
As federal grants disappear and career prospects dim, our most promising scientists and engineers in cyber-critical fields will inevitably seek opportunities in other friendly and permissive countries with stable research funding and a strong national commitment.
—Denis Mandich, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for permissive
Adjective
-
The sneakers are designed with a lightweight EVA midsole for flexible support and a rubber outsole that boosts durability.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
-
If your schedule is flexible, look at departures on weekdays, especially early and mid-week.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The weight of running this informal refugee network shows.—
Vidushi Mishti Sharma,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Some ends up in informal scrapyards, where workers burn or dismantle devices by hand, often without protection, releasing toxic fumes and scrap.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Even though Lockett was electrocuted, Kentuckians believed the sentence was too lenient.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Some travelers may welcome the flexibility, while others could be concerned about inconsistency or worried that more lenient enforcement will lead to fuller overhead bins and more gate checks overall.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
At the time, what is now the 14th arrondissement was outside of the city proper, but still easily accessible.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
-
This model reduces upfront investment and makes high-end simulation accessible to smaller firms that previously couldn’t afford enterprise-scale CAE platforms.—
Ni Tao,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
And this peptide serum delivers, with 10 different peptides (which serve to smooth lines and plump lax skin) housed in yet another copper peptide that delivers them deep into the skin.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Others, lured by the country’s warm weather and lax oversight, followed.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The original 20-point peace plan called for all living and dead hostages to be turned over within 72 hours, but the timeline for the dead hostages’ release quickly became more pliable as Hamas outlined the difficulty in recovering them.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Combining the soft, pliable feel of a waffle towel with the plush texture of a throw blanket, this Snuggle Sac blanket puts a new spin on the genre of desk blankets and TV cover-ups.—
Kristi Kellogg,
Architectural Digest,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Permissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/permissive. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share