1
as in tilted
to set or cause to be at an angle
just lean the ladder against the tree and climb up it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in relied
to place reliance or trust
you can always lean on me if you need help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of leaned
Less than 24 hours after reshaping part of their roster, Brooklyn made another set of moves ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, continuing an active stretch that’s leaned heavily into flexibility, future assets and controllable young wings.
—
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
The pullback is also proving painful for companies and investors that leaned heavily into bitcoin during the rally.
—Allie Canal, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
In the bedroom, rather than doing their best to brighten up the room, which is small and has only one window, Adams and Tolles leaned into the room’s cavernous energy and painted it dark blue.
—Lina Abascal, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Set in the Bay Area, the performance leaned heavily into Black history and identity.
—Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
The album leaned heavily into acoustics with an emphasis on lyrical content.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
McDonald's Taps Into Emotional Connection The return of the Changeables isn’t the first time McDonald’s has leaned into the nostalgia of its past Happy Meals.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 4 Feb. 2026
During the game, Kennedy and Metcalf exchanged words near the Steelers’ sideline as Kennedy leaned over the railing from the first row.
—Jordy Fee-Platt, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Police said instead of pulling over, a masked passenger in the back leaned out of the car and pointed a gun at officers.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
The pullback is also proving painful for companies and investors that leaned heavily into bitcoin during the rally.
—Allie Canal, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
In the bedroom, rather than doing their best to brighten up the room, which is small and has only one window, Adams and Tolles leaned into the room’s cavernous energy and painted it dark blue.
—Lina Abascal, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Set in the Bay Area, the performance leaned heavily into Black history and identity.
—Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
The album leaned heavily into acoustics with an emphasis on lyrical content.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
McDonald's Taps Into Emotional Connection The return of the Changeables isn’t the first time McDonald’s has leaned into the nostalgia of its past Happy Meals.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 4 Feb. 2026
During the game, Kennedy and Metcalf exchanged words near the Steelers’ sideline as Kennedy leaned over the railing from the first row.
—Jordy Fee-Platt, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Police said instead of pulling over, a masked passenger in the back leaned out of the car and pointed a gun at officers.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaned
Verb
-
When the North Pole is tilted toward the sun, there are longer days of sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere (summer).—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The war tilted, however slightly, toward the Allies.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Having hit the ground running with the one-two punch of Promising Young Woman (2020) and Saltburn (2023), Fennell immediately showed a knack for provocation and a willingness to poke social-issue bears, even if the aim-to-grasp ratio tended to fall short.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
-
As for why the vote in congressional races has tended to shift in Democrats’ favor, there’s a simple, non-diabolical explanation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Beijing, which held the 2022 Winter Olympics, relied almost entirely on snowmaking.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
In short, a captain can be relied upon.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Round cheekbones like a waxing moon, uptilted eyes like a fox's, a nose that sloped sharply downward.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2026
-
For those times when the ground is just too bumpy, sloped or otherwise uncomfortable to pitch a tent, the Float also comes with a hammock kit.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In Bashar al-Assad’s Syria, from 2014 to 2024, 350,000 died, according to the United Nations—or close to twice that many, as counted by expatriate outfits.—
Josef Joffe,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The neutral court matchup counted as a conference game for the schools that traveled over 2,500 miles to play in Kia Forum, the former home of the Los Angeles Lakers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Put small bowls and plates between the tines, angled down and toward the center.—
Jessica Elliott,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
With the last stone of the end, Constantini angled her shot out wide, hitting another stone and sending it straight into the Americans' stones in the center of the target.—
Isabel Yip,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Treatment was largely ad hoc and depended to a considerable degree on individual commanders, but customarily prisoners would be exchanged or placed on parole—granted their freedom but required by oath not to return to military action.—
Drew Gilpin Faust,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
-
In Cúcuta, the local economy depended on Venezuelans who crossed the border to spend their powerful currency on shoes and clothes, flaunting their wealth, often buying in bulk.—
Daniel Alarcón,
New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leaned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaned. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
