ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary BuilderWordsLlenient
ISEE/SSATmedium
lenient
Meaning: mild or not strict, especially in giving punishment
lenient in a sentence
How lenient is used in real sentences:
The teacher was lenient with students who turned in homework a day late.
The coach's lenient attitude toward missed practices frustrated the more disciplined players.
“Other assistants were more lenient about rule violations, allowing late arrivals to join games that should already have closed.”
— from the passage Signals at the Table
Synonyms for lenient
Other words for lenient — merciful, forgiving and permissive — carry the same meaning.
- merciful
- forgiving
- permissive
Antonyms of lenient
Words that mean the opposite of lenient:
- strict
- harsh
Where it comes from
From Latin lenire "to soften"
Memory hook
LENIENT sounds like 'lean' -- leaning toward mercy instead of punishment.