as in preferring
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 leaning (toward or towards)
Verb
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Her late Majesty never wore black tights, preferring nude or brown tights.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
11 Mar. 2026 -
Instead, Zeisig treats the project like a beat tape, preferring static mats of sound and dynamically unyielding drifts over crescendoes and catharsis.—
Daniel Bromfield,
Pitchfork,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The agents can also teach themselves how to perform new tasks and keep detailed notes about a user’s preferences, allowing the agents to mold themselves to users’ liking over time.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
8 Mar. 2026
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The textile strap can be adjusted to your exact liking on each foot, since the fabric is completely permeable.—
Anna Popp,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Evolution operates at the level of populations over generations, favoring traits that increase average reproductive success, even if those traits sometimes harm individuals.—
Lilia Goncharova,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
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This is not about favoring corporations over consumers.—
Sara Albrecht,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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A day later, both sides were outside during breaks enjoying an unseasonably warm mid-March day in Manhattan.—
Doug Feinberg,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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The neighborhood/area Grab coffee at Café Lyria in Noho, take a cycling class at AARMY, stop by Baya Bar for a smoothie, spot your favorite TikToker while enjoying a plate of fries at Fanelli Café in Soho, then see the sunset in Washington Square Park, where people watching is a favorite pastime.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Leaning (toward or towards).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaning%20%28toward%20or%20towards%29. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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