as in mercy
kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it
a social critic who argues that judicial lenity is chiefly to blame for the increased criminality that plagues us
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 lenity
Twelve judges sided with Cargill and concluded that the definition of machine gun was ambiguous enough to invoke a legal principle known as the rule of lenity, which requires courts to interpret unclear criminal laws in a way that's most favorable to the defendant.
—
Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2024
The majority’s treatment of the rule of lenity also strikes a slightly sour note.
—The Insider, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2021
If the rule of lenity applies here, then Butler should not be charged with a hate crime.
—Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine, 25 Apr. 2017
Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2024
The majority’s treatment of the rule of lenity also strikes a slightly sour note.
—The Insider, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2021
If the rule of lenity applies here, then Butler should not be charged with a hate crime.
—Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine, 25 Apr. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenity
Noun
-
At the end of 2023, after serving more than 13 years, G. Dep was shown mercy.—
Brendan Rand,
ABC News,
5 Feb. 2025
-
Space is not a safe environment, and astronauts would be at the mercy of cosmic rays and solar radiation.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
After asking for leniency, Mizuhara apologized to Ohtani in the letter.—
Danielle Jennings,
People.com,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Milton Andersen, the men’s uncle, opposes any leniency for his nephews.—
Michael Dorgan,
Fox News,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
No South Carolina governor has granted clemency in a death-penalty case since the state reinstated capital punishment in 1976.—
Amir Daftari,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
-
The lawyer handling Michel’s clemency request is Adam Katz, who has represented Rudy Guiliani in litigation arising from the former New York City mayor turned Trump consigliere’s own legal effort to thwart the 2020 presidential election.—
Gary Baum,
The Hollywood Reporter,
30 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near lenity
Cite this Entry
“Lenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenity. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share