Definition of CLEMENCY (original) (raw)
1
a
: disposition to be merciful and especially to moderate the severity of punishment due
The judge ignored the prisoner's pleas for clemency.
b
: an act or instance of leniency
The governor's clemencies saved the lives of many death-row prisoners.
2
: pleasant mildness of weather
The fair was a great success, owing to the clemency of the weather.
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for clemency
threw himself on the mercy of the court
charity stresses benevolence and goodwill shown in broad understanding and tolerance of others.
show a little charity for the less fortunate
clemency implies a mild or merciful disposition in one having the power or duty of punishing.
the judge refused to show clemency
grace implies a benign attitude and a willingness to grant favors or make concessions.
leniency implies lack of severity in punishing.
criticized the courts for excessive leniency
Examples of clemency in a Sentence
The President has granted clemency to several people this month. the judge chose to show clemency to the truly repentant embezzler
Recent Examples on the Web Then the conversation turns to Kim, who, in 2018, visited him in the Oval Office and persuaded him to grant clemency to a woman named Alice Marie Johnson, who was serving life in prison for a 1996 arrest for cocaine trafficking. —
Ramin Setoodeh, Washington Post, 17 June 2024 Missouri was planning to carry out its second execution of the year on Tuesday after Gov. Mike Parson denied a request for clemency filed by inmate David Hosier. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 11 June 2024 Her first legal success came when Kardashian successfully campaigned for the clemency of grandmother Alice Marie Johnson, who was sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent offense. —Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 5 June 2024 Peltier remains in prison and only presidential clemency can free him, but every president for decades has refused to act. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for clemency 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clemency.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of clemency was in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near clemency
Cite this Entry
“Clemency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clemency. Accessed 3 Jul. 2024.
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Last Updated: 29 Jun 2024 - Updated example sentences
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