lean (on or against)

verb

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

Related Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lean (on or against)
  1. compel
  2. force
  3. muscle
Verb
  • Tuesday's hearing was to be part of Arredondo's push to compel federal agents to testify at his trial for allegedly endangering students during the response to the Robb Elementary School mass shooting.
    — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 14 July 2026
  • The piece is over before the mental picture really develops, which only compels me to start it over again.
    — Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026
Definition of compel
Verb
  • None of that history mattered though when Nick Moon put Boise on the scoreboard in the seventh minute and forced club staff to scramble for a new corner flag.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 12 July 2026
  • Crew members of a container vessel reported damaged near the Strait of Hormuz were forced to abandon ship, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center said in a separate statement.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 12 July 2026
Definition of force
Verb
  • The streaks abruptly ended when De Ketelaere muscled past Cubarsí and headed home a cross from Timothy Castagne for Belgium’s tying goal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
  • Vance also appears willing to muscle Israel into accepting whatever outcome the Iran talks deliver.
    — Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 27 June 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 15 Jul. 2026.

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