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
Striking the right balance between freedom for adults and safety for users has been a difficult balancing act for OpenAI, which has vacillated between permissive and restrictive chat content controls over the past year.
—
ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for permissive
ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for permissive
Adjective
-
These include electric vehicles with extended driving ranges, large-scale renewable energy storage systems that can balance intermittent solar and wind power, and lightweight, flexible power sources for portable and wearable electronics.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Airlines have been alerting customers whose flights are canceled and offering flexible rebooking and refund options to other travelers headed to those 40 airports.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
During the 2020 cycle, disinformation targeting Black voters has been spreading through informal channels on social media, according to a report by NBC News.—
David Smiley,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The informal meeting represents the first layer in the appeals process the district is entitled to avail itself of, Lecholop said.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The thing, of course, is that King Charles had been very lenient with his brother until this happened.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Florida’s housing market was one of the hottest during the pandemic due to the state’s appeal to remote workers, retirees, and investors who relocated from high-cost states like New York and California seeking more space, lower taxes, and lenient COVID restrictions.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But many voters seemed to appreciate Mamdani’s acknowledging the challenges of living there, plus his upbeat, accessible timbre of the campaign.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Their do-it-yourself culture, supported by tech like 3D printing, accessible electronics, and online tutorials, has successfully democratized small-scale aviation.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Short-term rentals have been a hot-button issue for Nantucket, with supporters of tighter limits arguing that wealthy tourists are gobbling up all the housing options for workers and proponents of a more lax policy highlighting how important visitors are to the island’s economy.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
These elements are critical not just to helping Mexican workers, but to eliminating incentives for companies to offshore American jobs (those being cheap labor and lax enforcement of standards).—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Permissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/permissive. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share