lenity
Mercy in punishment
Lenity is mercy or mildness, especially in punishment or judgment.
The word appears most often in legal contexts, where a judge might show lenity toward a first-time offender.
The court exercised lenity in sentencing.
It shares a root with lenient but sounds more formal and literary.
Official release from punishment
- reprievePostponement of punishment
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- commutationSubstitution of penalties
exoneration · mercy · forgiveness · remission · acquittal · grace · discharge · release
Gentle, moderate quality
- softnessYielding to gentle pressure
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
- kindnessConsiderate, caring disposition
- compassionConcern for others' distress
warmth · patience · consideration · care · sensitivity · benevolence · understanding · humanity
Tolerance of behavior others forbid
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- laxityLack of strictness
- liberalityGenerous spirit or giving
- concessionYielding a point
latitude · slack · forbearance · looseness · sufferance · allowance · broad-mindedness · overlooking
pardon
Official release from punishment
- reprievePostponement of punishment
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
commutation · exoneration · mercy · forgiveness · remission · acquittal · grace · discharge · release · vindication
mildness
Gentle, moderate quality
- softnessYielding to gentle pressure
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
- kindnessConsiderate, caring disposition
compassion · warmth · patience · consideration · care · sensitivity · benevolence · understanding · humanity · sympathy
permissiveness
Tolerance of behavior others forbid
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- laxityLack of strictness
- liberalityGenerous spirit or giving
concession · latitude · slack · forbearance · looseness · sufferance · allowance · broad-mindedness · overlooking · condonation
lenityseverity
Intensity of sternness
harshness · strictness · rigor · sternness · pitilessness
lenitycruelty
Deliberate harm-causing disposition
vindictiveness · vengeance · retribution · viciousness · brutality