lenient Hear it!

lenient Definition

le·ni·ent (lēnyənt, lēnē ənt)

adjective

  1. not harsh or severe in disciplining, punishing, judging, etc.; mild; merciful; clement
  2. Archaic soothing

Etymology: L leniens, prp. of lenire, to soften, alleviate < lenis, smooth, soft, mild < IE base *leī-: see late

Related Forms:

lenient Synonyms

lenient

modif.

loving, soft, soft-hearted, easygoing, permissive, favoring, mild, tender, yielding, complaint, pampering, clement, indulgent, humoring, tolerant, forbearing, pardoning, letting, permitting, allowing, gratifying, sympathetic, assuaging, assuasive, emollient; see also kind.

Antonyms severe*, firm*, austere.

lenient Usage Examples

Preposition: about

  • chore: Be lenient about chores and untidiness, give them a break and understand lost tempers and moodiness.

Modifies a noun

  • sentencing: She wants all examples of lenient sentencing sent to her.
  • sentence: An unduly lenient sentence must not be simply lenient.
  • punishment: UK Sport, which oversees drugs testing in Britain, is considering more lenient punishments.
  • penalty: You will be denied any right to defend yourself and obtain a more lenient penalty.
  • attitude: But some of the most keenly intelligent philosophers have taken a surprisingly lenient attitude to this issue.

Modifying Another Word

  • unduly: An unduly lenient sentence must not be simply lenient.
  • too: The standard question " Are courts too harsh, too lenient or about right?
  • very: Our law system is very lenient about giving information.
  • so: Be not so severe as to cause disgust, nor so lenient as to make people presume.
  • relatively: May 02: Sue Speight is disappointed by the relatively lenient sentences handed down to the men convicted of her husband's murder.
  • pretty: Yes, 250 words, tho we are pretty lenient about the issue.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: Two Stanley players were cautioned for foul and abusive language toward the referee during the first half, as the official seemed somewhat lenient.
  • become: The public need to know whether crime rates are increasing and whether courts are becoming more lenient.
  • get: Thanks to ever increasing competition, the lenders are also getting lenient with time.

Preposition: in

  • case: Punishments are considered by those polled to be far too lenient in cases of death or serious injury is caused.

Preposition: with

  • people: From: Steve Lund Date: Tuesday, 8 March 2005, at 6:12 pm judges are lenient with people like me.

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