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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Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaning (toward or towards)

Verb

In patients with positive results, primary care doctors were less likely to diagnose Alzheimer’s at the time of the visit, preferring to refer patients with worrisome results to specialists for further examination.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Instead of flipping his day, the branding exec likes to ski in the morning and doesn’t head to the office until noon, preferring to work later in the evening—often over dinner with clients.

— Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 July 2026

Definition of preferring

Verb

Hathaway and stylist Erin Walsh achieved this feat by favoring this season’s least restrictive trends, starting with La Ligne’s ivory satin Colby Pants, with an elastic waistband.

— Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 17 July 2026
The school districts have repeatedly accused the village of favoring the developers’ projections of student populations over those of the schools, while Mundelein leaders have argued that their analysis lies between dueling projections.

— Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

Definition of favoring

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.

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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 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of leaning (toward or towards)

verb

Example Sentences

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