Definitions

lenient

[lee-nee-uhnt, leen-yuhnt] / ˈli ni ənt, ˈlin yənt /

ADJECTIVE

permissive

Synonyms

STRONGEST

benign compassionate compliant forgiving indulgent sympathetic tolerant

WEAK

allowing amiable assuaging assuasive being big benignant charitable clement complaisant condoning easy easygoing emollient excusing favoring forbearing gentle going easy on good-natured humoring kind kindly letting live with loving merciful mild mollycoddling obliging pampering pardoning permitting soft soft-shell softhearted sparing spoiling tender yielding

Antonyms

STRONGEST

hateful merciless

WEAK

hard intolerant limiting restrictive rigorous severe

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Last week, a judge in Moscow added two more years to the sentence, after ruling Davies' initial jail term was too lenient.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

City Council moved to adopt relatively lenient “Zone Zero” laws for homes in fire danger zones, measures that do not align with the plans that state agencies are working to enact.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

But as of now, there are enough tailwinds in place—including more lenient tax policy, higher vehicle demand, and consistent retiree spending—to keep expenditures steady during the first quarter.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Sangha's lawyers in March requested the judge to issue a more lenient sentence, arguing she had "accepted responsibility for serious criminal conduct" and did not have a prior record.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

“He does not expect us to leave at once. He has given us two weeks’ time in which to go, which is lenient.

From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya

Vocabulary lists containing lenient

List 3

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