PERMISSIVENESS Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

permissiveness

noun

as in licentiousness

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Recent Examples of permissiveness Perhaps because of the filming frenzy in the concourse, or the transgressive aim of the competition, an air of permissiveness presided. — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 13 July 2026 Denny Jong — began making derogatory comments around the office, fostering a culture of permissiveness that allowed similar remarks to go unchecked. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 Kalshi’s new product tests the limits of the CFTC’s permissiveness while the agency actively defends its ability to oversee prediction markets in court. — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 9 July 2026 Biden surpassed Ronald Reagan in permissiveness for refugees’ suffering. — Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026 Leaders should keep in mind that generosity is not the same thing as permissiveness—generosity needs structure. — Cherian Koshy, Forbes.com, 20 Feb. 2026 Some of this unprecedented editorial permissiveness can be attributed to the disappearance of a stable moral consensus to bind the ruling class to its subjects, who have come to develop the conviction that the Establishment has nothing good to say for itself. — Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 The suggestion, in other words, is that the chatbot should err on the side of permissiveness in response to user prompts for erotic material. — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026 What then to make of Netflix’s permissiveness toward the theatrical experience this awards season? — Chris Lee, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for permissiveness

Noun

This kind of depravity, licentiousness and polemical theatrics has no place on such a traditional and once wholesome presentation of the coming of a new year in our great nation and especially on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the greatest experiment in democracy and freedom in history.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
This kind of depravity, licentiousness and polemical theatrics has no place on such a traditional and once-wholesome presentation of the coming of a new year, especially on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the greatest experiment in democracy and freedom in history.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026

Definition of licentiousness

Noun

Instead, cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema’s lens emphasizes the wildness of the landscape in a way that suggests how tentative civilization’s hold on this place is.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 July 2026
Salonen guided the Colburn Orchestra with flexible authority, imposing order or inciting wildness as the moment required.

— Alex Ross, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Definition of wildness

Noun

As more shoppers look for products that support relaxation, recovery and better rest, Snooz is positioning its dessert as more than just an indulgence.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 17, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2026
One of the country’s most exclusive bookings, a stay here really does feel like the ultimate indulgence, with access to its 80-label wine cellar and a food free-for-all anytime of the day.

— Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 16 July 2026

Definition of indulgence

Noun

Rather, the term has come to stand for a range of attributes—intemperance, ordinariness, outsiderness, likability, spontaneity—that aren’t especially related philosophically, either to authenticity or to one another.

— Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 5 June 2026
The power to issue absolute pardons, explicitly stipulated in the founding document, has been exploited with bipartisan intemperance.

— Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025

Definition of intemperance

Noun

Jordan Cvetanovski, chairman and chief investment officer at Pella Funds, said demand for AI infrastructure remains strong as companies race to build computing capacity, but signs of speculative excess are beginning to emerge.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 15 July 2026
The rest of the trailer is filled with the kind of Eighties-style excess — with a gruesome tinge — that showcases what a good match Ellis and Murphy are for each other.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2026

Definition of excess

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permissive

permissiveness

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“Permissiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/permissiveness. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of permissiveness

noun

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