permissive

adjective

Definition of permissivenext
as in flexible
often disapproving giving people a lot of freedom or too much freedom to do what they want to do permissive parents Some states have more permissive laws than others.

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of permissive Ink shows how Thatcher’s right-wing populism originated in the permissive society of the late ’60s. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2026 The numbers reflect how Florida’s long history of racial discrimination and permissive gun laws undermine public health, said researchers, public officials, community activists and grieving parents. — Yona Gavino, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 Getty An island that had spent decades pairing glamour with license was perhaps the wrong place to entrust an adolescent to unusually permissive relatives. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026 Yet another study found that students at schools with restrictive phone policies did not have significantly better mental health or academic outcomes than students at more permissive schools. — Kavin Bendre, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for permissive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for permissive
  1. flexible
  2. informal
  3. lenient
  4. accessible
  5. lax
  6. pliable
  7. pliant
Adjective
  • This collaborative work delivers a new chemical strategy for fabricating high-performance flexible perovskite modules in China.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Faster decisions and more flexible production can let brands commit to holding less stock, replenish the hits that sell, and avoid some of the markdowns and unsold inventory that are routinely baked into seasonal forecasting.
    — Jessica Binns, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of flexible
Adjective
  • In an office, the two of them would likely have crossed paths, enabling an informal mentoring relationship.
    — Lynn Godfrey, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Around a third of young Africans are employed in informal roles in the agricultural sector.
    — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of informal
Adjective
  • Different lenders have different credit score requirements, with some being more lenient than others.
    — Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Some parents may be more lenient than others on the candy indulgence, but Arnaout says setting limits is important to avoid children getting stomach aches or nausea.
    — Lina Ruiz October 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of lenient
Adjective
  • The Next Phase Of Competitive Advantage As AI capabilities become increasingly accessible, competitive differentiation will come from how effectively organizations integrate those capabilities into their operations.
    — Joel Burleson-Davis, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The paradox of it, private and public, hidden yet accessible, reflects something essential about Antwerp, a city whose richness lives largely behind closed doors.
    — Michael James Gardner, Architectural Digest, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of accessible
Adjective
  • For some, the seemingly lax federal regulation and pending litigation around prediction markets raised alarm bells.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The California Department of Health Care Services, the state agency that licenses and oversees addiction treatment centers, has been criticized as having lax regulations governing how most private-pay rehabs can operate.
    — Ilan Shrira, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of lax
Adjective
  • Once the exterior is pliable enough to season, apply the brine and return the turkey to the refrigerator to finish thawing.
    — Julie Harans, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The flour tortillas are Chihuahua-style, delicately flaky, but dense and pliable enough to prevent leakage.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of pliable
Adjective
  • The world went in, and pliant, playful interpretations flowed out.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Fernández’s theory is that Mark must have told the women the code to his safe in his pliant stupor.
    — Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of pliant

Browse Nearby Words

permissions
permissive
permissiveness
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Cite this Entry

“Permissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/permissive. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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