as in flexible
often disapproving
giving people a lot of freedom or too much freedom to do what they want to do
permissive parents Some states have more permissive laws than others.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of permissive
California has been too permissive about curriculum adoption, allowing widely varying and often unproven materials across districts.
—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
The revenues from the $1,500 permits have been a boon for Rwanda, but have also pushed travelers into less expensive, more permissive markets such as Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
—
Adam Erace,
Fortune,
24 May 2026
The Swedish Film Institute’s Cinemateket, meanwhile, hosted Svenska Synden – a retrospective examining how Swedish cinema’s permissive approach to nudity and sexuality became an international phenomenon that alarmed censors around the world.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Meanwhile, San Diego for years was on the cutting edge of facilitating construction of accessory dwelling units or ADUs, enacting perhaps the most permissive rules in California.
—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
The revenues from the $1,500 permits have been a boon for Rwanda, but have also pushed travelers into less expensive, more permissive markets such as Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
—
Adam Erace,
Fortune,
24 May 2026
The Swedish Film Institute’s Cinemateket, meanwhile, hosted Svenska Synden – a retrospective examining how Swedish cinema’s permissive approach to nudity and sexuality became an international phenomenon that alarmed censors around the world.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Meanwhile, San Diego for years was on the cutting edge of facilitating construction of accessory dwelling units or ADUs, enacting perhaps the most permissive rules in California.
—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for permissive
Adjective
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Most importantly, organizations need to stay flexible themselves.
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The four-piece set includes two semi-transparent and two transparent shades made from a lightweight, flexible mesh material that utilizes static energy to cling to windows without the need for adhesives or suction cups.
Adjective
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Authorities are also investigating the death of a Malawian man after he was allegedly killed by a mob at an informal settlement in the city of Pietermaritzburg, near Durban.
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It is joined by an adjoining family room and informal dining area.
Adjective
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There was a credible argument for being more lenient, but also one for dismissing the striker.
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One of the features of this World Cup has been the desire of FIFA officials, under the direction of former World Cup final referee Pierluigi Collina, to be lenient in games and allow matches to flow without excessive disruption.
Adjective
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With retail prices starting around $19,000 for entry models and climbing past $100,000 for advanced ones, rentals offer a more accessible option.
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If that conversation also seems too anxiety-provoking, focus on modes of communication that do feel accessible to you.
Adjective
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Several months earlier, county auditors identified lax accounting procedures that resulted in LAHSA’s failure to pay its contractors on time.
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While not every instance is this costly, the fact remains that many companies incur some kind of additional cost due to unnecessary spend, lax budget enforcement, supply irregularities and the like.
Cite this Entry
“Permissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/permissive. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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