1. to make less severe, harsh, or strict; to soften or mitigate
Usage: formal or literary

Examples

• The judge decided to lenite the sentence based on the defendant's youth and good character.
• Time and distance helped lenite the pain of their separation.
• She spoke gently, trying to lenite the harsh criticism with kind words.
• The medication was designed to lenite the symptoms of the disease.
• His apology did little to lenite her anger.