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
Dunn famously forgave his attacker, asking for lenience at his federal trial.
—
Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
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
Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
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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Until then, the city remains at the mercy of the weather.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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The actor plays Oz on High Potential, a detective who found himself at the mercy of a serial killer at the end of season 1.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Rombough, who was described by Wenger’s former lawyer as the most violent of the three, took a plea deal and became a government witness with the hope of leniency.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
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In the lead-up to Monday’s hearing – held three days before Martinez’s 68th birthday – defense lawyers filed motions arguing for leniency based partly on what a doctor said was a dangerous heart condition worsened by stress.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lenience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenience. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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