1
as in to tilt
to set or cause to be at an angle
just lean the ladder against the tree and climb up it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in skinny
having a noticeably small amount of body fat
all of the marathoners are extremely lean
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in slope
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon
the wall has enough of a lean that we can't set a bookcase against it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lean
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
My relationship with foundation has always leaned toward skin tints and lightweight formulas that create that natural, luminous, everyday finish.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Feb. 2026
Kim Willis, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
White’s jaunty editing ensures the proceedings roll merrily along, and yet the richness of detail in every frame makes this feel longer than its lean 71-minute running time, but not at all in a negative way.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 20 Feb. 2026
Devra Ferst, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
At times, poetcore leans into hipster territory.
—India Roby, InStyle, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lean
Verb
Almost all the Indian adaptations of Wuthering Heights fall on the side of depicting the Heathcliff character as a wronged lover who is ultimately in the right; here’s one that leans more toward his villainy, resulting in something slightly less predictable, if still quite silly at times.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
My relationship with foundation has always leaned toward skin tints and lightweight formulas that create that natural, luminous, everyday finish.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The Elvis who wears a white polyester jumpsuit that is, truth be told, at least a size too big for his lean frame.
—Kim Willis, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
White’s jaunty editing ensures the proceedings roll merrily along, and yet the richness of detail in every frame makes this feel longer than its lean 71-minute running time, but not at all in a negative way.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
Chef/partner Sohui Kim’s menu leans into steakhouse classics like New York strip steak and shrimp cocktail, but there are more modern touches here too like clams kimsino made with bacon-kimchi butter, and crispy hen of the woods mushrooms with black garlic aioli and house Sriracha.
—Devra Ferst, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
At times, poetcore leans into hipster territory.
—India Roby, InStyle, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lean
Verb
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Metro Atlanta homes sold at a discount last year at the highest rate in a decade, another sign the market has tilted in favor of buyers.—
Amy Wenk,
AJC.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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At this time, the Northern Hemisphere is not tilting toward or away from the Sun, giving us nearly equal amounts of day and night, according to the Smithsonian's Science Education Center.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Though her burial exemplified nothing extraordinary, as a woman with no status, the surgery demonstrates that the Pazyryk took care to tend to the sick and injured in their society, regardless of their station, Gizmodo reported.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
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Norwegian coaches don’t tend to mistake early bloomers for talented athletes.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Whether your employer relies on a formal performance review process at pivotal points throughout the year or more frequent informal feedback, according to 2024 data from Gallup, less than a quarter of employees strongly agree that their performance review process is fair and transparent.—
Vicki Salemi,
Boston Herald,
16 Feb. 2026
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Davidson-Schmich also noted that men’s labor force participation has steadily decreased, potentially limiting the number of women who can rely on a partner’s income when making major financial decisions such as purchasing property.—
Genesis Lisboa,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The actress and singer modeled a gray pinstriped set including skinny trousers and a sleeveless top which narrowed at the waist and was accented by a thin belt.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
18 Feb. 2026
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As Kenneth enjoys a last skinny dip in the indoor pool, Geert makes some inquiries about flights to countries with no extradition treaties to Belgium.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Family members and Blackbird Mountain Guides officials said the group was on the last day of a three-day trip to the Frog Lake huts near Castle Peak and that the skiers were heading back to the trailhead when the slope collapsed.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
22 Feb. 2026
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While conditions remain dangerous, experts advise reading the avalanche forecast, skiing with local expert guides and choosing shallower slopes to ski off-piste.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Umbrellas angled just so over boxes of organic produce on her porch.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
21 Feb. 2026
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As parents across the nation grapple with crippling daycare bills that threaten to keep them at home and out of the workforce, political leaders from New York to San Francisco have been angling to expand access to free and subsidized care.—
Morgan Lee,
Fortune,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Besides the reluctance of many people to share their own DNA profile for investigations, the success rate also depends on people’s willingness to have their DNA catalogued at all.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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In some states, Powerball tickets can be bought online depending on local jurisdiction.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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To remove the wax, wipe out softened wax with paper towels, add cotton balls to absorb the liquid wax, or let the wax harden and remove it by popping it out with a thin plastic spatula.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
16 Feb. 2026
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The procedure uses a thin, flexible catheter introduced through a small incision in the femoral artery near the groin.—
MemorialCare,
Oc Register,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lean. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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