lenientadjective
uk/ˈliː.ni.ənt/us/ˈliː.ni.ənt/C2 not as severe or strong in punishment or judgment as would be expected:
They believe that judges are too lenient with terrorist suspects.
In view of the quantity of drugs involved, 16 years was the most lenient sentence (= punishment) the judge could impose.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Lenient & merciful
- charitable
- charitably
- charity
- clemency
- ease
- ease up/off
- easy
- go easy idiom
- have a heart! idiom
- heart
- magnanimous
- merciful
- mercy
- quarter
leniency
noun [ U ] uk/ˈliː.ni.ən.si/us/ˈliː.ni.ən.si/
The defending lawyer asked for leniency on the grounds of her client's youth.
leniently
adverb uk/ˈliː.ni.ənt.li/us/ˈliː.ni.ənt.li/
He said senior officials caught in ethical lapses were treated more leniently than junior employees.