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easy

easy

275 1.0
Not strict and allowing people more freedom
  • adjective
  • /ˈiːzi/
translation icon : permisivo
  • Given the nature of risk in today's society, it is no easy matter to weigh risks against each other.
  • too easy

After this is is happening, he says to Khrushchev, look, I'll go easy on Berlin.

Examples

  • The teacher has an easy approach that encourages creativity among students.

  • In my company, we have a very easy rule.

  • The trend is toward providing easy access to multiple data sources within a single search.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Look at the classes that students consider "easy" versus those that they consider "hard."

    Academic text (2011)
  • Even though all of these critical elements seem logical, they are not easy to accomplish.

    Academic text (2015)
  • The community leaders decree an easy and suitable solution to the problem.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Disagreement is not so easy to settle when it comes to these kinds of matters.

  • The general public also was less easy to intimidate and less tolerant of antisocial behavior.

    Academic text (2011)
  • We have an easygoing atmosphere in the office that helps everyone feel comfortable.

  • Her easy manner made the new students feel welcome and relaxed.

Synonyms

lenient
vseasy
32 4.4

Not strict about rules and punishment

focuses on relaxed standards and allowing freedom rather than mercy
lax
vseasy
31 4.6

Not strict enough about rules or work

tolerates freedom and avoids rigid standards without implying negligence
permissive
vseasy
  • Jargon
14 4.9

Not strict and giving a lot of freedom about what people do

gives freedom but keeps clearer standards and some rule enforcement
1 6.9

Allowing freedom to act or choose without strict rules

emphasizes lack of strictness and rule enforcement, not just freedom of choice
unrestrictive
vseasy
5.2

Not making strict rules and allowing a lot of freedom

means not enforcing harsh rules rather than focusing on technical absence of limits

Antonyms

359 3.2

Not allowing any exceptions and requiring rules to be followed exactly

68 4.2

Very strict and harsh when judging or punishing people

Idioms

Simple and clear so most people can know what it means quickly

easy on the eyes
  • Informal
10 3.9

Pleasant or attractive to look at

Simple to understand and do

easy does it
  • Informal
8 6.0

Move slowly and carefully to avoid mistakes or accidents

easy as pie
  • Informal
4 1.7

Very easy to do with little skill

3 9.1

Saying advice is easy when you are not in the same situation

easy time of it
  • Informal
1 1.7

A situation that is not difficult and needs little effort

5.3

Do not be upset when something you get easily is lost

Compounds

34 3.5

A person or thing people attack and take advantage of because it is weak

23 1.0

A way to reach or get something quickly and without difficulty

9 2.3

A large comfortable chair with arms and soft cushions for relaxing

easy mark
  • Offensive
9 7.1

A person others can easily trick or cheat

easy money
  • Informal
8 3.2

Money someone earns with little work

easy street
  • Informal
3 5.1

A situation when a person has enough money and no money problems

free-and-easy
  • Informal
2 5.7

Relaxed and friendly without following strict rules

easy-breezy
  • Informal
1 6.1

Simple and relaxed, not difficult or serious

1 3.7

A time when loans are easy to get because interest rates are low

Pleasant and smooth to drink, not strong in taste

How Permissive

lax
31 4.6
permissive
  • Jargon
14 4.9
easy
275 1.0
lenient
32 4.4
firm
73 2.7
strict
359 3.2

Surface Forms

easy positive
easier comparative
easiest superlative

Morphology

easy = ease (semi-transparent) = ease + y

The sense 'not strict or severe' is an extension from 'not difficult'/'comfortable' and is inferable but somewhat idiomatic.

Etymology

Easy comes from Old English ēaþe meaning 'comfort' and is related to ease, so if someone or something is easy on rules they give people 'ease' by not being strict or severe.