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
In his four years as the district attorney in the nation’s second-largest city, progressive Gascón sought solutions for America’s mass incarceration dilemma that many deemed too lenient and said fueled lawlessness and led to crimes committed with impunity.
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Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
In general, ancient Egypt had a more lenient perspective toward the legislative and legal position of women, but this was diminished in some capacity when the region became part of the Roman Empire in the first century B.C.E., Naether says.
—Elizabeth Djinis, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024
Others have accused Harris of going soft on criminals by approving lenient plea deals.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Conservative students avoid applying to schools in states with liberal LGBTQ laws and lenient crime statutes.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lenient 
Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
In general, ancient Egypt had a more lenient perspective toward the legislative and legal position of women, but this was diminished in some capacity when the region became part of the Roman Empire in the first century B.C.E., Naether says.
—Elizabeth Djinis, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024
Others have accused Harris of going soft on criminals by approving lenient plea deals.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Conservative students avoid applying to schools in states with liberal LGBTQ laws and lenient crime statutes.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lenient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenient
Adjective
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Some people going through a tough time—a career setback, relationship hurdle, or life transition—just need a sympathetic ear.Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 22 Nov. 2024
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And if the plan is struck down, again, only a sympathetic secretary would choose to appeal.Jonaki Mehta, NPR, 19 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Sully’s request for compassionate release is rejected, much to Ripley’s dismay.Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 20 Nov. 2024
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He was subsequently released in April 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic permitted compassionate release for some inmates with health conditions, but was arrested on October 29 for failing drug tests and traveling without his probation officer’s okay.Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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United-Guardian continues to focus on developing new products using natural and environmentally friendly raw materials to meet the demand for 'green' and sustainable products.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024
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These include their nocturnal lifestyle and their strong odor. Smart and friendly, the world’s largest rodent (weighing more than 100 pounds) is social and gentle.Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Discrete levels are filled with an array of obstacles and enemies, some of which culminate in gigantic bosses whose easygoing challenge offers a merciful break from the likes of Elden Ring.Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2024
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Some are kept affordable by other government subsidies, by merciful landlords or by states, including California, Colorado and New York, that have worked to keep them low-cost by relying on several levers.Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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There are more forgiving boards out there for intermediate riders, and resort-rippers concerned with technical jibbing should look elsewhere.Drew Zieff, Outside Online, 26 Sep. 2024
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Couples who can laugh together about their quirks tend to be more forgiving and less judgmental, fostering a deeper sense of safety in the relationship.Mark Travers, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Both the characters and the audience quickly understand that this is not going to be a simple task nor a pleasant journey.Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
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The stepmom shared her story of pursuing a peaceful, pleasant holiday on Reddit Comments A stepmom is caught in the middle of an awkward holiday dynamic.Angela Andaloro, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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This increase is attributed to changes in occupancy, patient mix, and Medicaid rates.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
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Integrated tracking provides insights to fuel further optimization toward business KPIs like first consult and patient conversion rates.Bahram Moshrefnoory, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Hand-wash-only items can often be machine-washed in a protective mesh bag using the gentle cycle.Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2024
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In this gentle novel, an elderly widow finds her solitary routine disrupted by a mouse, setting off a sequence of events that reconnects with the larger world.Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near lenient
Cite this Entry
“Lenient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenient. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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