lenient

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Federal regulations around e-bikes are lenient; they are considered nonmotorized vehicles like regular bikes and don’t require riders to have driver’s licenses or insurance.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Sangha's lawyers in March requested the judge to issue a more lenient sentence, arguing she had "accepted responsibility for serious criminal conduct" and did not have a prior record.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

But as of now, there are enough tailwinds in place—including more lenient tax policy, higher vehicle demand, and consistent retiree spending—to keep expenditures steady during the first quarter.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

A federal appeals court agreed, upholding the state’s law under a lenient standard of review.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

But in other points, as well as this, I was growing very lenient to my master: I was forgetting all his faults, for which I had once kept a sharp look-out.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë