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
Hochman has faced criticism for his handling of police use-of-force cases, with some questioning his decisions to offer lenient plea deals and dismiss charges against several officers.
—
James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Keep expectations lenient, and keep actions grounded.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
Critics are no longer holding back, openly questioning how many chances Woods should get, and whether golf’s governing bodies have been too lenient for too long.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
And insurance companies have not provided the money for remediation of dirt laced with high amounts of lead that tests above state safety levels and in some cases, higher than the more lenient federal standard.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lenient
James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Keep expectations lenient, and keep actions grounded.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
Critics are no longer holding back, openly questioning how many chances Woods should get, and whether golf’s governing bodies have been too lenient for too long.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
And insurance companies have not provided the money for remediation of dirt laced with high amounts of lead that tests above state safety levels and in some cases, higher than the more lenient federal standard.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lenient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenient
Adjective
-
Bahrain revoked citizenship from 69 individuals accused of being sympathetic to Iran.—
Dominic Dudley,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Several justices seemed sympathetic to the company’s argument that it can’t be sued under state law because federal regulators have found Roundup likely doesn’t cause cancer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Her personality was so engaging, made everyone feel seen, heard, cared for, compassionate, fair-minded.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
-
When delivered as intended, hospice remains one of the most compassionate and effective models of care in our healthcare system.—
Tom Koutsoumpas,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The shows are accompanied by similar drops in ad revenue and increasing production costs, an ongoing shift to digital viewership, political constraints and publicity-friendly interview questions.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Putin presided over a parade that featured hardware such as the Geran-2, the Russian version of Iran’s Shahed drone, and played host to friendly leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The merciful end came three weeks after Sunderland’s surrender to relegation in May 2017.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The age difference between the Aunt Lydia School students and the actors who play them has never felt more merciful than in this week’s episode.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Mercedes says the sedan can travel 472 miles on a single charge, but that estimate was reached using the more forgiving WLTP testing standard.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
20 Apr. 2026
-
But while gardening is a relatively forgiving process that can be adjusted over time, there are certain spring gardening do’s and don’ts that may dramatically alter the health of your plants and your garden for the entire growing season.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
His voice and his music are unfailingly tasteful and pleasant, which is a key part of both his appeal and limitations.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The daily afternoon tea in Horizons is also extremely pleasant (don’t skip on the chicken sandwiches, which were more my beat than the scones and jam).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
What happens when staying in school is no longer the sentimental choice, or the patient choice, but the best business decision available?—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
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Trump’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed excluding diagnoses added by an insurer who merely reviews patient records but never actually sees the patient.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Both are gentler than acetone and won’t dry your nails and cuticles out as much, making this pot a great choice for those with sensitive skin.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Cooked in a wood-burning oven, the chicken hums with a gentle smokiness and a complex, fruity chile flavor that’s warm, rounded and highly addictive.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lenient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenient. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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