as in preferred
to show partiality toward
I'm leaning toward sausage on our pizza tonight—we got pepperoni the last three times
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaned (toward or towards)
Verb
-
Splenda can be appropriate when preferred for taste or function.—
Verywell Health,
Verywell Health,
17 Feb. 2026 -
Consumers have preferred SUVs and trucks over sedans for years.—
Sarah Agostino,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Miller liked Codie’s stats, but the coach also emphasized that those nine points and six rebounds didn’t accurately reflect how effective Codie played against an imposing frontline for Missouri.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The Duke of York liked bold ideas.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Palmerston enjoyed a friendly rivalry with Britain’s most famous cat, 10 Downing Street’s Larry, who just celebrated 15 years in his post.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Argentines join celebrations in Buenos Aires Thousands of Argentines gathered in Buenos Aires’ Chinatown to celebrate the Lunar New Year and enjoyed dragon and lion dances on the main stage, alongside martial arts demonstrations.—
Ken Moritsugu,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
At a Wednesday meeting, the panel favored The Boring Company over two competitors, one of which expressed concerns about the practicality of drilling tunnels in Florida, according to public records obtained this week by the Orlando Sentinel.—
Skyler Swisher,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Interior designer Sussan Wemlinger specifically points to the 1980s and early 1990s, when design trends favored using a single pattern throughout a room, from walls and window treatments to furniture and even lampshades.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Feb. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Leaned (toward or towards).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaned%20%28toward%20or%20towards%29. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
