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
In the past decade, a surge of wealthy foreigners—lured by this permissive atmosphere, and by blue-chip medical care—have enlisted American women as surrogates.
—
Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Thanks to older siblings and friends, permissive parents, fake IDs, and unethical sellers, some young people have always found ways to evade these bans, and similar tactics could work for surmounting a social-media ban as well.
—Keith Humphreys, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
But others look to further loosen already permissive policies.
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 29 Jan. 2026
Kansas has its own slate of permissive gun laws.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Thanks to older siblings and friends, permissive parents, fake IDs, and unethical sellers, some young people have always found ways to evade these bans, and similar tactics could work for surmounting a social-media ban as well.
—Keith Humphreys, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
But others look to further loosen already permissive policies.
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 29 Jan. 2026
Kansas has its own slate of permissive gun laws.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for permissive
Adjective
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The borrowers — mostly smaller companies that banks would consider too risky or complex for a traditional loan — pay a higher interest rate in exchange for quick access to capital and flexible financing terms.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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The stretchable electrolyte can also be used in flexible batteries for medical applications.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The massive spread includes several formal and informal gathering spaces, with the gleaming chef’s kitchen serving as the heart of the home.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
4 Mar. 2026
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National Snack Day was established in 2016 by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway, who has invented more than two-dozen informal holidays, Days of the Year said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The scandal has already led to multiple lenient plea deals, multiple case dismissals and the overturning of at least three murder convictions.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
2 Mar. 2026
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But his crimes were taken seriously by authorities only after the journalist Julie Brown uncovered the extent of Epstein’s crimes and the lenient response from law enforcement over decades.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Depending on room type, features may include mobility-accessible tubs, roll-in showers, transfer showers, and hearing-accessible enhancements such as visual alarms and notification devices for the door and telephone.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Mar. 2026
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The border area -- where militant groups, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, are also active -- is not accessible to the media and the Associated Press could not independently confirm any of the casualty reports.—
SUZAN FRASER AND MUNIR AHMED THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Last year, the office issued a report showing that Connecticut has some of the laxest homeschool regulations in the country.—
Ginny Monk,
Hartford Courant,
4 Mar. 2026
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The case exposed lax ethics on the part of the Bar itself.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Permissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/permissive. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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