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
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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
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The word itself is defined as mercy or leniency.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
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After all, Jesus had just finished praising gentleness, mercy, and peace.—
Emily Chamlee-Wright,
Washington Post,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The word itself is defined as mercy or leniency.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
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Carter’s leniency was met with a Republican backlash.—
Alexander Nazaryan,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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If Beijing is articulating its asks, Washington should articulate its own, from clemency for Jimmy Lai to substantive and measurable cooperation on Ukraine.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
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Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon were granted clemency.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenity. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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