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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Flatheads aren’t built for extended chases like their streamlined cousins, preferring instead to dart out from hiding and devour unwary prey.—
Keith Sutton,
Outdoor Life,
18 June 2026 -
But Barclays is staying selective in the sector, preferring Endeavour Mining and Hochschild as both stocks trade on cheaper multiples than Fresnillo , which the analysts say is more fully valued.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Natalie’s politician father-in-law, Doug, only seems to invoke his faith for aesthetics, to flavor his political ambitions to his constituents’ liking.—
Kyley Sitton,
Washington Post,
18 June 2026
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However, there isn’t necessarily a consistent color for grass between stadiums and broadcasters, meaning pixel-peeping viewers might need to tweak their settings to their own liking for each match .—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
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For Club name DuPont, analysts like the company's strategy of favoring its healthcare and water businesses but don't see enough total growth to give it a buy.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
15 June 2026
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Jennifer Garner previously opted for comfy-looking joggers that show off cute shoes, while Olivia Wilde, Shay Mitchell, and Kate Moss have been favoring wide-leg styles that are equal parts tailored and breezy.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Verb
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For the most part, the Croatia and England fans were a happy, cheerful bunch, sporting their teams colors, chanting happy tunes and enjoying the unique experience.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
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That means players, staff and coaches are off to parts unknown enjoying their summer break.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 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 22 Jun. 2026.
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