How to Use leniency in a Sentence

leniency

noun
Definition of leniencynext
Synonyms for leniencynext
  • Kay sobbed while one of his three sons spoke to the judge from the lectern in a plea for leniency.
    — Schuyler Dixon, ajc, 11 Oct. 2022
  • Griner asked the court for leniency but was sentenced last Thursday to 9 1/2 years in prison.
    — Robyn Dixon, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Aug. 2022
  • Asking for leniency from the judge, Dawn Munn has submitted a pair of letters to the court.
    — Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 30 Sep. 2022
  • Entrekin, in his letter to the judge, did not make a request for leniency.
    — Richard Ruelas, The Arizona Republic, 6 May 2022
  • Griner’s plea to the court for leniency fell on deaf ears, and she was sentenced to nine years’ prison in a Russian court last Thursday.
    — Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2022
  • In all, 24 letters of support for Buelow were sent to the judge in recent days, pleading for leniency.
    — Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024
  • Among those who asked the judge for leniency on the banker included Laffitte’s wife and daughter.
    — David Chiu, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2023
  • The show is set in 2016, and the ubiquitous Hillary signs in the background allude to the leniency that society tends to grant men at the expense of women.
    — Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 26 Dec. 2022
  • At the sentencing in July, Logan asked the judge for leniency.
    — Brett Murphy, ProPublica, 20 Nov. 2022
  • Supporters of Moore and Mansell’s wrote nearly 50 pages of letters to the judge asking for leniency.
    — Hannah Phillips, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2023
  • In rare moments of leniency from Ike, Tina did enjoy success on her own.
    — Hillel Italie, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 May 2023
  • The claim was made in court papers in which Maxwell’s lawyers pleaded for leniency ahead of her June 28 sentencing.
    — Rich Schapiro, NBC News, 17 June 2022
  • Griner and her lawyers pleaded for leniency, but everyone knew better than to hope for it.
    — Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2022
  • The attorney, Nichole Doughtery, asked for leniency to allow Fix to work.
    — Annie Doyle, Detroit Free Press, 16 Sep. 2022
  • But when a member of law enforcement pulls rank to gain that leniency – that is an ethical breach.
    — Sonia Pruitt, CNN, 7 Dec. 2022
  • In letters to the judge, six of Maxwell's seven siblings pleaded for leniency.
    — Larry Neumeister and Tom Hays, USA TODAY, 28 June 2022
  • Stewart wrote a letter to the judge in the case, asking for leniency in Fortenberry’s sentencing.
    — Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 June 2022
  • Prior to sentencing, Todd and Julie asked for leniency.
    — Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 21 Nov. 2022
  • Prosecutors would get a new right to appeal such leniency, intended as a check on judges who might be seen as soft on crime.
    — Jeff Amy, ajc, 13 Feb. 2023
  • Since taking office, Price has endorsed a plea bargain in one murder case that surprised even the judge because of its leniency.
    — Scott Wilson, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2023
  • Or maybe the leniency was due to the fact that, as the state of Israel apparently noted in black and white in the accusation against him, there were no victims, no damage, and no claims.
    — Oleh Sentsov, The New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2023
  • In letters to the judge, six of Maxwell’s seven living siblings pleaded for leniency.
    — Larry Neumeister and Tom Hays, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2022
  • The defense asked for leniency, saying Monahan was remorseful and had no criminal record at the time of the shooting.
    — Ray Sanchez, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024
  • Six of Maxwell’s seven living siblings wrote to plead for leniency.
    — Larry Neumeister, Fortune, 28 June 2022
  • The eventual leniency was a business decision hinged on selling iPhones in the world’s most populous country at the time.
    — Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 9 May 2023
  • Victims who testified about their mistreatment say they are frustrated by the leniency that the police and courts have shown.
    — Richard C. Paddock, New York Times, 18 June 2023
  • The defense will try to convince the jury that there are mitigating circumstances that would call for leniency.
    — New York Times, 18 July 2022
  • The leniency of the sentence, along with Doe’s viral statement, ignited widespread fury.
    — Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2023
  • With her guilty plea making the verdict all but a foregone conclusion, Ms. Griner’s lawyers have been arguing for leniency.
    — New York Times, 1 Aug. 2022
  • In fact, many lawyers have struck a similar theme when seeking leniency for Jan. 6 rioters.
    — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 5 Jan. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leniency.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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