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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According to Boparai, his pizzeria has already amassed many regulars, with some saying they’ve been fully converted to fusion pizzas, preferring them over a traditional pepperoni or supreme pie.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
17 Oct. 2025 -
Many American policymakers have grown skeptical of multilateral engagement, preferring to focus inward.—
Sergio Alonso Fernández de Córdova y de Veyga,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At an age when boys start liking girls and girls start liking boys, nobody showed the slightest bit of interest in Tupac.—
Jeff Pearlman,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
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From that point on, the two were inseparable, despite liking rival NFL teams.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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According to Bleacher Report, Rollins appeared to be favoring his arm for the remainder of that match, and later, a photo surfaced showing Rollins wearing a sling after the event.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
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Jackie Apostel, Cruz Beckham’s partner, opted for suited styling with a hint of sensuality, favoring the peekaboo bra layering trend that saw a resurgence in 2024.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Betrayal Index was conceived precisely for the type of season Dak Prescott is enjoying — make that experiencing — through the first six weeks of the 2025 NFL season.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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On Sunday, October 12, members of the 117th Military Police Battalion, National Guard, and Memphis Police Department officers conducted community safety patrols alongside joggers and families enjoying a day out at Tom Lee Park.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
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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 19 Oct. 2025.
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