LEANING (TOWARD OR TOWARDS) Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

leaning (toward or towards)

verb

Definition of leaning (toward or towards)

present participle of lean (toward or towards)

as in preferring

to show partiality toward I'm leaning toward sausage on our pizza tonight—we got pepperoni the last three times

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaning (toward or towards)

Verb

Rota chose to live in Southern Italy, in Bari, preferring it to his native Milan and Rome, the country’s capital of cinema.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
He is listed at a slight 5-foot-11 and 172 pounds, with many NHL evaluators preferring bigger centers.

— Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of preferring

Verb

Hospitals fought back, and Congress rejected the proposal, instead favoring a voluntary approach desired by the industry.

— Stephanie Armour, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
Hong, favoring a backward-facing view of the mayhem, shoots in lengthy takes that swerve and snake with rough-and-tumble precision; the energies of car and camera seem to fuse into one.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of favoring

Verb

Enzo Maresca has brought more composure to their in-possession play, with City enjoying 69 per cent possession, an increase on the 53 per cent average from the final two league games of 2025-26.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
While neither of these experiences is essential to enjoying your stay, the additional charges do chip away at the all-inclusive promise.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of enjoying

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.

Browse Nearby Words

leanings

leaning (toward or towards)

leanness

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“Leaning (toward or towards).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaning%20%28toward%20or%20towards%29. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of leaning (toward or towards)

verb

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