Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
leniently

leniently

1 3.4
To treat someone in a not strict way when judging or punishing them
  • adverb
  • /ˈliːniəntli/
translation icon : con leniencia
  • In this case, the judge ruled leniently, considering the defendant's young age and lack of prior offenses.
  • treat them leniently
  • more leniently

So he was sort of treated more leniently.

Examples

  • Possession of cannabis and other drugs for personal use in an amount greater than small should be punished more leniently, generally corresponding with their enumeration in the Appendixes of the Act on Addictive Substances.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Some magistrates tend to set bail at unaffordable rates, while others set bail more leniently.

    Academic text (2017)

  • However, I will stress that if I deal with you leniently here, it will certainly not be so light should you appear before me again.

    Scum (1979)

  • The close personal contact of student and master teacher, further, may create social obligations on behalf of the teacher to grade leniently in the end.

    Academic text (2014)

  • The University of California treated white faculty members and administrators found to have committed sexual misconduct more leniently.

    Academic text (2016)

  • They wanted to know what would happen if they treated some defendants more leniently, perhaps even issuing an acquittal or two.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Hu considered the demonstrators idealistic and treated them leniently.

    Academic text (1993)

  • We react, correctly I think, with outrage when we see that a celebrity found with drugs is treated more leniently than a non-entity.

    Blog text (20)

  • Because SETs have become such an important factor in employment decisions, instructors may be tempted to grade leniently, and as a result, academic standards may suffer.

    Academic text (2008)

  • But, contrary to Hazard's assertion, these cases suggest that the offending lawyers are being treated quite leniently.

    Academic text (1996)

Synonyms

gently
vsleniently
372 1.0

To do something with little force to avoid hurting or making noise

concerns relaxed rule enforcement rather than gentle physical manner
softly
vsleniently
95 1.0

In a gentle, light way using little force

relates to permissive attitude, not low physical force
loosely
vsleniently
43 3.7

In a way that is not exact or strict

refers to relaxed rules about behaviour, not lack of exactness
liberally
vsleniently
10 3.9

In a generous way that gives a lot

means relaxed rule application, not generous quantity or amount
tolerantly
vsleniently
1 4.1

In a calm way that accepts different opinions or behavior

focuses on relaxed rule enforcement rather than accepting views
permissively
vsleniently
5.7

Allowing a lot of freedom and few rules

is about relaxed enforcement of rules rather than active allowance
laxly
vsleniently
7.8

In a careless, not strict way

describes deliberate relaxed enforcement rather than careless neglect

Antonyms

strictly
103 3.7

Someone acts in a careful way that follows rules exactly

harshly
49 3.5

In a severe or unkind way that feels unpleasant

How Lenient

indulgently
2 6.6
leniently
1 3.4
forgivingly
1 4.4
tolerantly
1 4.1

Surface Forms

leniently positive

Morphology

leniently = lenient (transparent) = lenient + ly

Formed by regular adjective-to-adverb derivation with the productive suffix '-ly' and retains the straightforward meaning 'in a lenient manner'.

Etymology

Leniently comes from the Latin root lenis, which means 'soft', and it is the same root behind lenient. So, to act leniently is to be 'soft' with rules or punishment, not strict.