as in sympathetic
allowing a lot of freedom and not punishing bad behavior in a strong way
a teacher who is lenient with students who have misbehaved The public was outraged by the lenient sentence the corrupt banker received.
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Recent Examples of lenient
The hypepriests of years prior might now appear tepid, too lenient, not sufficiently trad or tough-on-sin.
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Sam Kestenbaum, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
That includes information about how federal authorities handled their investigations into Epstein in 2008 and again in 2019 after Brown’s Miami Herald expose of a lenient plea agreement between Epstein and local prosecutors.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
Considering the sentence here was for 90 years and a maximum fine, there should be no question that this mitigating evidence would have resulted in a more lenient punishment.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
The federal indictment came over a decade after Epstein in 2008 pleaded guilty in Florida to procuring a person under 18 for prostitution and felony solicitation of prostitution — in a plea deal that has since been criticized as far too lenient.
—Raquel Coronell Uribe, NBC news, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenient
Adjective
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Andrew begins to feel both sympathetic and longing for Millie and leaves Nina for the maid.—
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Although its questions framed the scandal with wording sympathetic to Republicans, the survey suggests the GOP sees an opening that could drag down Democrats.—
Adjective
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Stable housing, economic supports, safe communities, inclusive policies, supportive workplaces, and compassionate classrooms are not abstract ideals.—
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Vulnerable Chiron is rolling forward in your 10th House of Authority, prompting you to reshape your path by transforming past criticism into practical, compassionate leadership.—
Adjective
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Head to Amazon now to shop even more petite-friendly comfy pants, and keep scrolling to check out the rest of my favorite picks.—
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Looking for more cold-weather-friendly sets?—
Adjective
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And what seemed most probably was a blip ultimately dominoed into the disillusioning 2025 season that will come to a merciful end on Sunday in Las Vegas.—
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This was seen by the founders as a merciful act, stemming from the tradition of old English law.—
Adjective
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Care Instructions Despite their forgiving reputation, these tropical plants have specific needs.—
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Pork shoulder is such a forgiving cut of meat.—
Adjective
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Tuesday is shaping-up to be the nicest weather day this week and possibly the most pleasant day for a while.—
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The wonders of Arenal can be enjoyed year-round, but the weather is significantly more pleasant in the dry season, which typically runs from December to April.—
Adjective
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If strikes move forward, the Department of Health will have staff on site at all affected hospitals beginning tomorrow morning and for the duration of the strike to ensure patient safety and continuity of care.—
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More importantly, be patient and give your eyes time to adjust (at least half an hour) to the darkness.—
Adjective
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Common exfoliators and fine line-eliminators like retinol and glycolic acid are too harsh on my skin, but this serum utilizes lactic acid, which is far more gentle but just as potent.—
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Instead of direct water exposure, the robot switches to a gentler mechanical process.—
Cite this Entry
“Lenient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenient. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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