Do you know the definition of lenient? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word lenient, including its definition, usage, example sentences, and more!
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Kevin
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June 21, 2021
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What does the word lenient mean?
According to Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language and Dictionary, the word lenient (pronounced ˈlinyənt) is an adjective that describes someone or something that has a mild and tolerant disposition or effect. This thing exerts a soothing or easing influence, and is not harsh, severe or strict. Many things can be lenient from lenient rules to lenient laws to a lenient disposition. In a legal context, the word lenient might describe an easy penalty for criminals from the criminal justice system from a lenient judge, like a 30-month sentence or forgiveness for a horrific crime. In a school, an easy teacher or academic staff, indulgent parents or easy standard of test-taking might be considered lenient. Lenience can allow for greater freedom of expression, but keep a sharp look-out that it doesn’t allow for bad behavior, or an inappropriate comment or inappropriate image. If leniency goes too far, this can lead to evil practices or genuine harm.
Many different languages also contain words that mean lenient. You may notice that some of these lenient translations look and sound alike. These are called cognates. Cognates are when two words look and sound similar as well as mean something similar across languages. These are often formed when two words have the same root or language of origin such as Latin or Greek. This list of translations is provided by Word Sense.
- Spanish: tolerante, laxo, leniente
- Mandarin: 宽大 (kuān dà)
- Scottish Gaelic: tròcaireach
- Italian: permissivo, tollerante, indulgente
- Occitan: tolerant, permissiu
- Russian: снисходи́тельный, мя́гкий (mjáxkij), терпи́мый
- Portuguese: leniente
- Finnish: lempeä
- Dutch: toegeeflijk, tolerant, mild
- Maori: ngāwari
- Romanian: tolerant (masc.) (n), tolerantă (fem.), indulgent (masc.) (n), blând (masc.) (n), îngăduitor (masc.) (n)
- Czech: shovívavý (masc.)
- Serbo-Croatian: popustljiv
- German: nachsichtig
- French: indulgent, permissif, laxiste
- Indonesian: lunak
How can the word lenient be used in a sentence?
The word lenient can be used in many different ways to describe someone who does not perform harsh punishments or who has a mils disposition. In this example, Bonny was caught cheating on a test and her teacher confronts her about it.
Teacher: Bonny, I’m going to let you off with a warning. I’m being lenient because I know you are a good student and I believe this was just a lapse in judgement, but if it happens again, I will report you to the dean.
Bonny: Thank you, sir. It won’t happen again.
Here, Bonny’s teacher is being lenient by letting her off with a warning because she is a good student who made a mistake. In this next example, Bonny’s parents are mad at her for not cleaning her room.
Mom: I think we should ground her for a week. It will teach ehr to keep her space clean.
Dad: That’s a little lenient. I was thinking two weeks plus additional chores.
What are synonyms and antonyms for the word lenient?
There are many different words that one can choose to use in place of the word lenient. These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same meaning as another word or phrase. Synonyms are a great way to expand your vocabulary as well as to avoid repeating yourself in spoken or written word. This list of synonyms for the word lenient is provided by Thesaurus.
- soft
- charitable
- benignant
- forbearing
- obliging
- live with
- indulgent
- pampering
- being big
- pardoning
- permitting
- compassionate
- forgiving
- complaisant
- amiable
- condoning
- allowing
- clement
- sparing
- gentle
- assuasive
- compliant
- softhearted
- going easy on
- excusing
- merciful
- easy
- spoiling
- tolerant
- tender
- kindly
- favoring
- kind
- soft-shell
- good-natured
- humoring
- mild
- easygoing
- sympathetic
- permissive
- emollient
- loving
- yielding
- mollycoddling
- benign
- letting
- assuaging
There are also numerous different words and phrases that mean the opposite of the word lenient. These opposite words are called antonyms. Antonyms are another quick and easy way to expand your English language vocabulary. This list of antonyms for the word lenient is also provided by Thesaurus.
- exacting
- dead set
- rigorous
- invidious
- grim
- awful
- abhorrent
- offensive
- prudish
- damnable
- vicious
- blasted
- austere
- infamous
- despicable
- pesky
- malign
- hard
- ornery
- detestable
- vile
- repellent
- horrid
- firm
- strict
- severe
- catty
- execrable
- repulsive
- confounded
- punctilious
- no-nonsense
- unsparing
- set
- revolting
- abominable
- tough
- draconian
- repugnant
- disgusting
- dour
- nasty
- forbidding
- stringent
- scrupulous
- stern
- hateful
- gross
- authoritarian
- undesirable
- uncool
- hard-boiled
- foul
- despiteful
- uptight
- rigid
- mean
- malevolent
- straight
- strait-laced
- stuffy
- stickling
- spiteful
- cursed
- picky
- odious
- obnoxious
- puritanical
- pestiferous
- heinous
- damned
- oppressive
- cussed
- accursed
- bitter
- resentful
- shuddersome
- disciplinary
- evil
- harsh
- iron-fisted
- square
- loathsome
- unpermissive
What is the origin of the word lenient?
According to Etymonline, the word lenient has been sued since the 1650s to mean the archaic sense of the word relaxing or soothing. This comes from the French lenient, from the Latin lenientem, the nominative Latin lēniēns, the present participle of lēnīre meaning to soften or allay. The Latin lēnīre comes from the Latin lenis meaning mild, gentle or calm. This is likely of Proto-Indo-European roots. Using lenient to mean milkd or merciful has occurred since 1787. Before this, people used lenitive, a Middle English word used in the early 15th century to describe medicine and in the 1610s to describe people. Related words include leniently (adv.), lenience (n.), leniency (n.), and lenitive (adj.)
Overall, the word lenient describes someone who is not strict, and who has a soothing or relaxed disposition. Many times, parents and teachers who let children do whatever they want without punishment are considered lenient, but the term can also be sued in a legal sense.
Sources:
- Lenient – Meaning, Translation, Origin | Word Sense
- LENIENT Synonyms: 54 Synonyms & Antonyms for LENIENT | Thesaurus
- STRICT Synonyms: 85 Synonyms & Antonyms for STRICT | Thesaurus
- Origin and Meaning of Lenient | Online Etymology Dictionary
- Lenient | Definition of Lenient | Merriam-Webster
- Lenient | Definition of Lenient | Dictionary.com
