adj
Uncommon
clement
KLEH-muhnt
Clement (adj) means Merciful or lenient in judging or punishing others. Example: “The clement ruler pardoned most of the prisoners.”
adj
1
Merciful or lenient in judging or punishing others.
"The clement ruler pardoned most of the prisoners."
2
Mild, especially describing pleasant weather.
"The weather is clement, though there was a downpour yesterday and I was obliged to take precautions."
— Edna O'Brien, The Bachelor (1984)
"The earth was still dry and the air was perfectly clement."
— A. B. Yehoshua, translated by Hillel Halkin (1992)
"They were lucky to have clement weather for the outdoor wedding."
How to use clement
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMild or merciful — used for both a person's temperament and the weather.
Common pairings
clement weather
a clement ruler
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more clement
- Superlative
- most clement
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ ruler pardoned most of the prisoners.
Etymology
From Latin clemens, "merciful, mild," the same root behind "clemency."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for clement
cement
element
movement
pavement
tenement
inclement
abatement
amusement
statement
agreement
excrement
amazement
See all rhymes for clement →
Frequently asked questions
What does “clement” mean?
The word “clement” means merciful or lenient in judging or punishing others. In plain terms, mild or merciful — used for both a person's temperament and the weather.
How do you pronounce “clement”?
“Clement” is pronounced KLEH-muhnt (/ˈklɛmənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “clement” in a sentence?
Here is “clement” used in a sentence: “The clement ruler pardoned most of the prisoners.”
What part of speech is “clement”?
“Clement” is an adjective.
Where does the word “clement” come from?
The word “clement” comes from Latin. From Latin clemens, "merciful, mild," the same root behind "clemency.".
Is “clement” a common word?
“Clement” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “clement” have?
“Clement” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: merciful or lenient in judging or punishing others.
