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
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Recent Examples of lenience
Experts say this level of lenience can lead to rebellion, risk-prone temperament, and unhealthy habits.
—
Zara Hanawalt, Parents, 29 Sep. 2024
Trilogy pulled through because of customers who went out of their way to support the business and order food to-go, the landlord’s lenience with rent, the PPP funding, its outdoor space and the health focus of her business at a time when health was on everyone’s mind.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025
Conservative applicants also voiced concern about liberal LGBTQ laws and lenience on crime.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024
Experts say this level of lenience can lead to rebellion, risk-prone temperament, and unhealthy habits.
—Zara Hanawalt, Parents, 29 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lenience
Zara Hanawalt, Parents, 29 Sep. 2024
Trilogy pulled through because of customers who went out of their way to support the business and order food to-go, the landlord’s lenience with rent, the PPP funding, its outdoor space and the health focus of her business at a time when health was on everyone’s mind.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025
Conservative applicants also voiced concern about liberal LGBTQ laws and lenience on crime.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024
Experts say this level of lenience can lead to rebellion, risk-prone temperament, and unhealthy habits.
—Zara Hanawalt, Parents, 29 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lenience
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenience
Noun
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Grapes are the primary ingredient in winemaking and the choice of yeast can be equally important, but until somewhat recently in wine’s 8,000-year history winemakers were completely at the mercy of the elements including the type of yeast that was already on their grapes and in their winery.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
17 June 2025
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Although the firm has profited immensely as a traditional asset manager and has become an industry leader for ETFs, the division's revenue streams are still at the mercy of the stock market's volatility.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
10 June 2025
Noun
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The judge cited the defendants' ages and health concerns as reasons for leniency.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
6 June 2025
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Mia Matthews, ex-wife of Palm Beach real estate swindler and Rowland friend Robert Matthews, was in federal court Thursday in Bridgeport where, after pleading for leniency, she was sentenced to probation and fined $6,000 for evading $2.75 million in taxes with her former husband.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lenience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenience. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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