leaning

leaning

noun

Definition of LEANING

: a definite but not decisive attraction or tendency —often used in plural <radical leanings>

Examples of LEANING

1. <the news media are often accused of having liberal leanings>
2. <despite what his athletic leanings might suggest, he was actually a very lazy kid>

First Known Use of LEANING

15th century

Related to LEANING

Synonyms

current, direction, drift, trend, run, tendency, tide, wind

Related Words

curve, downside, shift, swing, turn, turnabout, upside; custom, habit, propensity, tenor, way; countercurrent, countertrend; undercurrent, undertow

Near Antonyms

allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disrelish, distaste; detachment, impartiality, neutrality, objectivity; apathy, disinterestedness, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

Synonym Discussion of LEANING

leaning, propensity, proclivity, penchant mean a strong instinct or liking for something. leaning suggests a liking or attraction not strong enough to be decisive or uncontrollable <a student with artistic leanings>. propensity implies a deeply ingrained and usually irresistible inclination <a propensity to offer advice>. proclivity suggests a strong natural proneness usually to something objectionable or evil <a proclivity for violence>. penchant implies a strongly marked taste in the person or an irresistible attraction in the object <a penchant for taking risks>.

Rhymes with LEANING

greening, meaning, screening