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
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Recent Examples of permissive
Fueled by nationalist ambitions, massive government investments, and permissive regulatory structures, China’s biotechnology sector has undergone an explosive expansion in recent years.
—
Megan Molteni, STAT, 19 Mar. 2026
The report also showed that regulators had allowed more than 1,400 other older injection wells to operate for decades without any limits whatsoever on injection pressures or volumes — grandfathered in from an earlier era of permissive oversight.
—Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 17 Mar. 2026
Younger travelers take more risks and have a permissive attitude about everything from recreational drugs to graffiti.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
How permissive is the environment?
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Megan Molteni, STAT, 19 Mar. 2026
The report also showed that regulators had allowed more than 1,400 other older injection wells to operate for decades without any limits whatsoever on injection pressures or volumes — grandfathered in from an earlier era of permissive oversight.
—Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 17 Mar. 2026
Younger travelers take more risks and have a permissive attitude about everything from recreational drugs to graffiti.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
How permissive is the environment?
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for permissive
Adjective
-
There was experimental literature in which the role of the author could be tweaked; in popular fiction, authorship could be a flexible concept.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
According to experts, someone can be easygoing without being passive, or flexible while also staying engaged.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Food and drink Head to Cugino for breakfast or an informal lunch.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Through performances, activations, and informal exchanges, visitors are invited to share personal stories that become part of an evolving audio component.—
Olga Garcia-Mayoral,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Keep expectations lenient, and keep actions grounded.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Critics are no longer holding back, openly questioning how many chances Woods should get, and whether golf’s governing bodies have been too lenient for too long.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Making education accessible for teenage mothers is a challenge in Kenya and a mounting task for a country with a fast-growing young population.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Accessibility Fogo Island Inn offers fully accessible rooms on its first floor with walk-in showers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
With lax safety standards and problems with overcrowding, accidents occur frequently.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer has made millions of dollars investing in offshore private equity funds connected to islands known for lax tax policies, according to tax returns posted Thursday.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Permissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/permissive. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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