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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of permissive
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
Like Pham, Quintenz supports a permissive approach to sports prediction markets, with oversight enabled by the federal CFTC rather than their legality being determined by individual states.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 14 Aug. 2025
People have passed the point of exhaustion with permissive policies that too often make the well-being of the public at large a secondary concern at best.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2025
In Arizona, with permissive laws.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Mar. 2018
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Denis Mandich, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Like Pham, Quintenz supports a permissive approach to sports prediction markets, with oversight enabled by the federal CFTC rather than their legality being determined by individual states.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 14 Aug. 2025
People have passed the point of exhaustion with permissive policies that too often make the well-being of the public at large a secondary concern at best.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2025
In Arizona, with permissive laws.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Mar. 2018
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for permissive
Adjective
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However, if an employee purchases eligible health care items or services during furlough, they can’t be reimbursed from a flexible spending account until the worker returns to pay status and payroll deductions can be made.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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Tourists are still enjoying Michigan's lineup of dynamic fall events amid Apple Month and Michigan Agritourism Month this October and are flexible to changing fall color patterns, said Nick Nerbonne, media and digital director for Travel Michigan.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Long sought-after by fans, Electric Nebraska is the informal title of the album that Springsteen and the E Street Band recorded in 1982 from a collection of demos for his follow-up to The River.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
3 Oct. 2025
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Use just one to three large informal dahlias with smaller additions like spray roses, cosmos, eucalyptus, or larkspur.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Judge Subramanian allowed five of Combs’ attorneys to argue for a lenient sentence on his behalf in addition to the character witness statements.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
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Both the music mogul's supporters and detractors have sent letters to the judge urging either a more lenient or harsher sentence.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In the model preferred by YouTube, even streaming exclusives (like Premier League soccer on Peacock, for example) would be accessible directly via YouTube TV as opposed to having to leave the app.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
30 Sep. 2025
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What’s desperately needed, Sisti said, are comprehensive investments in mental health — Housing First programs, funding to build up a mental health care workforce, and an easily accessible and coordinated system of voluntary treatment that prevents people from deteriorating on the streets.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The platform allows for the creation of private chat groups on nearly any topic, and has long faced criticism over lax moderation.—
Kevin Collier,
NBC news,
24 Sep. 2025
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New research suggests American passengers are already getting shortchanged because of lax regulation.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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These styles are also gentle and pliable against gums.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
19 Sep. 2025
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But for many, Jimmy Kimmel’s cancellation is ringing fascism alarm bells for the first time, and bringing into focus just how eagerly pliable many Americans are.—
James Folta
September 19,
Literary Hub,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Permissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/permissive. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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