LENIENT

lenient

(adjective) characterized by tolerance and mercy

lenient

(adjective) not strict; “an easy teacher”; “easy standards”; “lenient rules”; “an easy penalty”

indulgent, lenient, soft

(adjective) tolerant or lenient; “indulgent parents risk spoiling their children”; “too soft on the children”; “they are soft on crime”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

lenient (comparative more lenient, superlative most lenient)

Lax; not strict; tolerant of dissent or deviation

Synonyms

• lax, permissive

Antonyms

• strict

• severe

• stringent

• unlenient

Noun

lenient (plural lenients)

(medicine) A lenitive; an emollient.

Source: Wiktionary


Le"ni*ent, a. Etym: [L. leniens, -entis, p. pr. of lenire to soften, fr. lenis soft, mild. Cf. Lithe.]

1. Relaxing; emollient; softening; assuasive; -- some "Lenient of grief." Milton. Of relax the fibers, are lenient, balsamic. Arbuthnot. Time, that on all things lays his lenient hand. Pope.

2. Mild; clement; merciful; not rigorous or severe; as, a lenient disposition; a lenient judge or sentence.

Le"ni*ent, n. (Med.)

Definition: A lenitive; an emollient.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

1 May 2025

ECONOMIC

(adjective) of or relating to an economy, the system of production and management of material wealth; “economic growth”; “aspects of social, political, and economical life”


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Coffee Trivia

In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.

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