lean (on or against)

verb

Definition of lean (on or against)next
as in to bear (down)

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lean (on or against)
  1. compel
  2. force
  3. muscle
Verb
  • With that comes the ability to set the legislative agenda for the House and Senate and subpoena power to compel government officials and business leaders to testify under oath.
    — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 9 Nov. 2026
  • The guitar had been sold for a time, but Labat bought it back and was compelled to build an album around it.
    — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of compel
Verb
  • Unreleased | Getty Images A spate of bomb threats against passenger flights has forced diversions, emergency landings and military escorts across European airspace this week, stoking fear among passengers and heaping pressure on airlines.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The abuse included shooting him with a BB gun, burning his genitals and forcing him to eat cat feces.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of force
Verb
  • But the thing that unites all their work, across all phases of production, is a persistence to muscle it past whatever obstacles and challenges lie in its path.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 1 Nov. 2026
  • The Southern Pacific muscled out the competition not just on land but on the seas and rivers.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of muscle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

leanness
lean (on or against)
leans
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Cite this Entry

“Lean (on or against).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lean%20%28on%20or%20against%29. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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