Definition of CLEMENCY (original) (raw)

: disposition to be merciful and especially to moderate the severity of punishment due

The judge ignored the prisoner's pleas for clemency.

: an act or instance of leniency

The governor's clemencies saved the lives of many death-row prisoners.

: 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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

No South Carolina governor has granted clemency in a death-penalty case since the state reinstated capital punishment in 1976. —Amir Daftari, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025 The lawyer handling Michel’s clemency request is Adam Katz, who has represented Rudy Guiliani in litigation arising from the former New York City mayor turned Trump consigliere’s own legal effort to thwart the 2020 presidential election. —Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Jan. 2025 Trump's argument for blanket clemency for Jan. 6 Trump has defended his decision to give pardons and commutations to all of the defendants charged in connection with the violent Jan. 6 attack, by suggesting that evaluating all of the cases individually would have been too difficult. —Tom Dreisbach, NPR, 30 Jan. 2025 Issuing the pardons was not the first high-profile act of clemency during Mr. Trump’s first week of his term, and was one that now involves him in a case that incited backlash against the police department operating just outside the White House. —Zolan Kanno-Youngs, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for clemency