LENIENCE Synonyms: 108 Similar and Opposite Words

lenience

noun

ˈlē-nyən(t)s

Definition of lenience

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

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 lenience Trump said similar lenience would be extended to hotel and leisure industries. — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 5 July 2025 Dunn famously forgave his attacker, asking for lenience at his federal trial. — Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 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

Historians say the horns may have been blown to scare evil spirits, to proclaim victories, or as a way to encourage divine mercy.

— Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
And she has been asked to comment and speak on MANY things over the years … choosing only to speak on that which brings love and mercy to real people, and shutting down any line of questioning that won’t.

— Hunter Kelly, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of mercy

Noun

Whether the changes endure is another question, as similar previous initiatives have quickly run into resistance from clubs who demand greater leniency.

— Graham Scott, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
This year, those leniencies — and big differences in rules from district to district — won’t exist.

— Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of leniency

Browse Nearby Words

lengthy

lenience

leniency

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Lenience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenience. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of lenience

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes