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.

The Attorney General now has 28 days under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme to decide whether to ask the Court of Appeal to look into the sentence.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

The Attorney General's Office had received requests to reconsider Prosper's sentence under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2025

The Attorney General, Victoria Prentis KC MP, said the case "shocked a nation", so it was "no surprise" she received a number of referrals under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2024

An separate application to refer Cashman's sentence to the court under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme has previously been thrown out.

From BBC • Jul. 12, 2023

Lenient suggests as reasons the divisions and factions in church and state and the current contempt for popular poetry.

From Folkways A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores, and Morals by Sumner, William Graham

Vocabulary lists containing lenient

List 3

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