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
Researchers divided the 50 states into three groups — most permissive, permissive, and strict — based on legal changes made since 2010.
—
Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 11 June 2025
Trump might want the Department of Justice to take a permissive approach to antitrust issues in college sports.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 July 2025
Even by the relatively permissive standards of 2002, Shallow Hal generated controversy for using fatness as a punch line.
—Liz McNeil, People.com, 16 July 2025
Valve's famously permissive rules for what games are and are not allowed on Steam got a little less permissive this week, seemingly in response to outside pressure from some of its partner companies.
—Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 11 June 2025
Trump might want the Department of Justice to take a permissive approach to antitrust issues in college sports.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 July 2025
Even by the relatively permissive standards of 2002, Shallow Hal generated controversy for using fatness as a punch line.
—Liz McNeil, People.com, 16 July 2025
Valve's famously permissive rules for what games are and are not allowed on Steam got a little less permissive this week, seemingly in response to outside pressure from some of its partner companies.
—Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for permissive
Adjective
-
Further discussions in London and Stockholm made enough progress for the two sides this week to announce another extension of the ceasefire, with the White House praising Beijing for being cooperative and flexible in the negotiations to date.—
Scott Kennedy,
Time,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Andy Naylor Scott Parker is aiming to be flexible and adaptable with his system this season.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
For years, stablecoins, digital tokens pegged to a fiat currency, operated in a patchwork of state laws, informal guidance, and regulation by enforcement.—
Christer Holloman,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
-
Valencia had been killed in 2009, before Ricky Pike and his parents had thrown themselves into organizing aid for other families of homicide victims in an informal network of logistical help, money for flowers or transportation and other support.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Six people close to Ellis — a pastor, relatives and friends — also wrote heartfelt messages to the judge, urging him to be lenient with Ellis' sentence.—
Ariela Lopez,
jsonline.com,
4 Aug. 2025
-
The current definition of heavy drinking in the U.S. may actually be too lenient, Lee said, especially compared to evolving global standards.—
Los Angeles Times,
Boston Herald,
27 July 2025
Adjective
-
Farley repeatedly made comparisons to the Model T, a pioneer of assembly line mass production credited with making automobiles accessible to the general public.—
Connor Giffin,
The Courier-Journal,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Proponents of rule change say there should be no cost to the individual for services that make the hearing accessible.—
Allana Smith,
Freep.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
On China’s periphery, regulation and enforcement is weaker, and coal producers often lobby local governments to keep regulations lax.—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
-
The refrain since Trump returned to office has been that, thanks to the lax new regulatory approach, crypto enforcement is off the table.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Across conversations over the past two years, people who have worked in the footballing department and beyond have described him as a perfect, pliable pupil.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
11 Aug. 2025
-
Amid the passing guest stars, Ortega remains the show’s only sustaining highlight, giving a performance that’s as precise as her character is pliable.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Permissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/permissive. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share