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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No longer a complete unknown wrapped in the Bob Dylan mystique, Chalamet has energized a balky awards circuit whose stars and filmmakers years ago had retreated from the rigors of self-promotion, with some still preferring to avoid it.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026 -
The Ravens have resisted playing the game for so long, preferring to treat continuity as infrastructure rather than sentiment.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Tucker, who cost the Cubs another promising young hitter, Cam Smith, plus infielder Isaac Paredes and right-hander Hayden Wesneski, almost certainly will be too expensive for the Cubs’ liking.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
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Her instincts were right, with Reese Witherspoon and more than 32,000 others liking her Instagram post, which shared a link to her essay.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The team’s new polymer layer resists mixing with electrolyte solvents, instead favoring decomposition of salt anions.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
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Sleek rooms and suites are thoughtfully designed for efficiency and comfort, favoring clean lines and crisp linens.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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He’s been spotted in the Bay Area, living his life, presumably enjoying the microclimates and the ability to put the pedal to the metal on Tasman Drive.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Guests then dined at the base of the pyramids before enjoying an afterparty and dessert in another area.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 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 12 Jan. 2026.
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