as in mercy
kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it
a social critic who argues that judicial lenity is chiefly to blame for the increased criminality that plagues us
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Recent Examples of lenity
Twelve judges sided with Cargill and concluded that the definition of machine gun was ambiguous enough to invoke a legal principle known as the rule of lenity, which requires courts to interpret unclear criminal laws in a way that's most favorable to the defendant.
—
Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2024
The majority’s treatment of the rule of lenity also strikes a slightly sour note.
—The Insider, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2021
If the rule of lenity applies here, then Butler should not be charged with a hate crime.
—Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine, 25 Apr. 2017
Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2024
The majority’s treatment of the rule of lenity also strikes a slightly sour note.
—The Insider, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2021
If the rule of lenity applies here, then Butler should not be charged with a hate crime.
—Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine, 25 Apr. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenity
Noun
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The Bishop Who Pleaded With Trump: Bishop Mariann Budde locked eyes with the president and made a plea for mercy — and the war over spiritual authority in America was reignited.—
Jim Tankersley,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
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She is known for her ruthless ambition, manipulation of her husband, and unwillingness to show mercy to achieve total power.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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After asking for leniency, Mizuhara apologized to Ohtani in the letter.—
Danielle Jennings,
People.com,
24 Jan. 2025
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Milton Andersen, the men’s uncle, opposes any leniency for his nephews.—
Michael Dorgan,
Fox News,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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And the president granted clemency to Don Scott, who became the first Black Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates last year.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
19 Jan. 2025
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The president has announced thousands of clemency actions in his final weeks in the White House, most of them focused on nonviolent offenders.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
19 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near lenity
Cite this Entry
“Lenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenity. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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