leniency

le·nien·cy

noun \ˈlē-nē-ən(t)-sē, -nyən(t)-sē\

plural le·nien·cies

Definition of LENIENCY

1

: the quality or state of being lenient

2

: a lenient disposition or practice

Examples of LENIENCY

1. <the defense requested leniency in light of their client's lack of a prior criminal record>

First Known Use of LENIENCY

1753

Related to LENIENCY

Synonyms: charity, clemency, forbearance, lenience, mercy, lenity, mercifulness, quarter

Related Words: humanitarianism, philanthropy; empathy, pity, sympathy, understanding; commiseration, favor, grace; benevolence, care, compassion, gentleness, goodness, goodwill, humaneness, kindliness, kindness, meekness, mildness, niceness, softness, tenderness; altruism, generosity, magnanimity, nobility; affection, devotion, love, worship

Near Antonyms: hard-heartedness, mercilessness, pitilessness, ruthlessness, uncharitableness; reprisal, requital, retaliation, retribution, revenge, vengeance; venom, vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol; atrocity, barbarity, brutality, cruelty, sadism, savageness, savagery, truculence, viciousness, violence, wantonness; castigation, chastisement, discipline, punishment, scolding; abhorrence, abomination, detestation, execration, hate, hatred, loathing; cattiness, malevolence, malice, maliciousness, malignancy, malignity, meanness, nastiness, spite, spitefulness, spleen; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, enmity, gall, grudge, hostility, jealousy, pique, resentment; bile, jaundice, rancor; hatefulness, invidiousness; coarseness, hardness, harshness, roughness

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See Synonym Discussion at mercy