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.

She appealed the verdict in the hope of clearing her name, while prosecutors also did so arguing that the sentence was too lenient and the acquittals were wrongful.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 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

Law officers have 28 days to decide if they think a case is too lenient, and if so can request the Court of Appeal to consider.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

A federal appeals court agreed, upholding the state’s law under a lenient standard of review.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

Wild was lenient with the men, knowing that being too strict would make their hard life even more unbearable.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

Vocabulary lists containing lenient

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