LENIENT Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

lenient

adjective

Definition of lenient

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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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 lenient The bot’s lenient management decisions, plus a questionable business sense, are surely contributing to its losses. — Billy Perrigo, Time, 14 Aug. 2026 No court in the land would ever be so lenient as to lop off almost two-thirds of a punishment this way. — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Historically, permitting these units was lenient given the rarity of their use. — Anna Demeo, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 In what proved a more lenient ruling than some feared, the court fined Nadezhdin 1,000 rubles ($12) and set him free. — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for lenient

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenient

Adjective

With the ownership transfer and a potentially sympathetic mayor, the future of the graves at Higgs Beach enters another period of hope and uncertainty.

— Oliver Wu, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
The smartest plaintiffs' attorneys are doing a good job shopping for judges sympathetic to their cases — and there are more than 30 at the moment with nearly 400 athletes involved.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of sympathetic

Adjective

Libra September 23 – October 22 The routine that keeps draining you may need a more compassionate rhythm.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
The vaccine is being used under a compassionate-use program, which allows a medical product to be used in a serious disease situation even though it has not been specifically approved for that particular use.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of compassionate

Adjective

Unlike some long-distance trails that offer extended stretches of relatively forgiving terrain, the AT spends much of its length going relentlessly up and down the Appalachian Mountains.

— Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Namely, a forgiving elastic waistband, a breezy, lightweight feel, and pockets that are actually deep enough to hold your essentials.

— Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of forgiving

Adjective

But a pleasant, elegant note does not match the intimacy—the intentionality—of speaking.

— José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026
Only Ann Patchett could write such a pleasant, amiable novel about death, and only a horse could serve as her essential metaphor for peaceful salvation.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of pleasant

Adjective

For smaller practices, the development of digital outreach often takes place alongside patient care and routine administrative responsibilities.

— Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Replace its electronic medical record system and improve cybersecurity, staff workflows, patient communications, and information exchange with hospitals, specialists, laboratories, and other care partners.

— Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of patient

Adjective

Now imagine that each bead carries a tiny battery that continuously gives it a gentle push along the chain.

— K. R. Prathyusha, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Designed as a therapeutic companion, the robot resembles a baby seal and uses soft fur, gentle movements, and responsive sounds to create the calming presence of a living pet.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of gentle

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lenient

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“Lenient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenient. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lenient

adjective

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