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

The club opted against a lengthy pre-season trip to North America, Oceania, or East Asia, preferring a smaller-scale tour in which the squad swung back to the Carrington training ground after playing across a host of European cities.

— Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Bateman has no need for bios, preferring to work off the script alone.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of preferring

Verb

Last fall, a federal bankruptcy judge ordered the network liquidated, finding evidence that McGraw deleted text messages to conceal plans favoring certain creditors over others.

— Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
State government policy favoring the school choice movement, including the passage of an essentially universal private school voucher system, has also changed the shape of the district in recent years.

— Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of favoring

Verb

Off the red carpet, Elordi has been enjoying his time in London with rumored girlfriend Kendall Jenner.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
Mario Lopez While Mario Lopez’s boys were getting ready for their first day of school, big sister Gia was still enjoying her summer break.

— Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 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.

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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 24 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of leaning (toward or towards)

verb

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