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Antonyms for lenient
| Grammar : Adj |
| Spell : lee-nee-uh nt, leen-yuh nt |
| Phonetic Transcription : ˈli ni ənt, ˈlin yənt |
Definition of lenient
Origin :- 1650s, "relaxing, soothing," from Middle French lenient, from Latin lenientem (nominative leniens), present participle of lenire "to soften, alleviate, mitigate, allay, calm," from lenis "mild, gentle, calm," probably from PIE root *le- "to leave, yield, let go, slacken" (cf. Lithuanian lenas "quiet, tranquil, tame, slow," Old Church Slavonic lena "lazy," Latin lassus "faint, weary," Old English læt "sluggish, slow," lætan "to leave behind"). Sense of "mild, merciful" (of persons) first recorded 1787. In earlier use was lenitive, attested from early 15c. of medicines, 1610s of persons.
- adj permissive
- The inferior clergy were by no means so lenient as the Bishop.
- Extract from : « The Works of Whittier, Volume VI (of VII) » by John Greenleaf Whittier
- She laid a lenient tax upon the neighbors and the town below.
- Extract from : « Tiverton Tales » by Alice Brown
- Now be lenient with me and don't get in a passion so easily, but be gentle like me.
- Extract from : « Albert Durer » by T. Sturge Moore
- Would you think it strange, your excellency, if they were not lenient?
- Extract from : « Daughters of the Revolution and Their Times » by Charles Carleton Coffin
- Therefore he asked that the magistrate would consider all this, and be lenient.
- Extract from : « The Soul of a People » by H. Fielding
- He had been a funny horse-thief, so in return they were lenient.
- Extract from : « Blazed Trail Stories » by Stewart Edward White
- I wish to be as lenient as possible, and, as I observed, the penalty will be merely nominal.
- Extract from : « Breaking Away » by Oliver Optic
- "But, father, you will be lenient towards them," cried the young man.
- Extract from : « Rabbi and Priest » by Milton Goldsmith
- The laws were lenient, for most crimes could be atoned for by money or other fines.
- Extract from : « Historical Tales, Vol. 9 (of 15) » by Charles Morris
- He could well afford to be lenient to a rebel of his calibre.
- Extract from : « Historical Tales, Vol. 9 (of 15) » by Charles Morris
Synonyms for lenient
- allowing
- amiable
- assuaging
- assuasive
- being big
- benign
- benignant
- charitable
- clement
- compassionate
- complaisant
- compliant
- condoning
- easy
- easygoing
- emollient
- excusing
- favoring
- forbearing
- forgiving
- gentle
- going easy on
- good-natured
- humoring
- indulgent
- kind
- kindly
- letting
- live with
- loving
- merciful
- mild
- mollycoddling
- obliging
- pampering
- pardoning
- permitting
- soft
- soft-shell
- softhearted
- sparing
- spoiling
- sympathetic
- tender
- tolerant
- yielding
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019