as in mercy
kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it
a judge's reputation for lenience towards first-time criminals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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 lenience
Perhaps even more troubling is the lenience that the IMF and World Bank demonstrate toward democratic countries in enforcing the conditions of economic reform programs, allowing leaders to pause reforms ahead of elections to endear themselves to the public.
—
Rebecca Liao, Foreign Affairs, 27 July 2015
Anger at the jury’s lenience swept through San Francisco, especially its gay community.
—Cathleen Decker, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2023
But other than a legitimate and insurmountable accessibility issue, Swanson says GitHub has no plans for lenience.
—WIRED, 11 Aug. 2023
Amid Tucker Carlson’s campaign to whitewash the violent January 6 riots, Collins, who seems to be a benefactor of lenience from the criminal justice system, has also demanded the release of January 6 attackers.
—Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 8 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for lenience
Rebecca Liao, Foreign Affairs, 27 July 2015
Anger at the jury’s lenience swept through San Francisco, especially its gay community.
—Cathleen Decker, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2023
But other than a legitimate and insurmountable accessibility issue, Swanson says GitHub has no plans for lenience.
—WIRED, 11 Aug. 2023
Amid Tucker Carlson’s campaign to whitewash the violent January 6 riots, Collins, who seems to be a benefactor of lenience from the criminal justice system, has also demanded the release of January 6 attackers.
—Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 8 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for lenience
Cite this Entry
“Lenience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenience. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share