1
as in tendencies
a prevailing or general movement or inclination
the news media are often accused of having liberal leanings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in inclinations
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
despite what his athletic leanings might suggest, he was actually a very lazy kid
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of leanings
Ken Jennings' political leanings are no mystery.
—
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
Everyone in the world does not and should not be defined by their political leanings, their race, their gender, their beliefs.
—Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
That declaration ultimately ended up encapsulating the vibe of a good portion of my 2025 music leanings, along with the addition of my penchant for good-old-fashioned soppy crooners, all of which contain a through line of really solid storytelling.
—Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2025
Given the state’s Republican leanings, whoever wins the GOP primary for Lummis’s seat is all but certainly poised to win the general election next year.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 23 Dec. 2025
Australian authorities say the suspects in the Bondi Beach shooting filmed a video manifesto that was littered with antisemitism and Islamic State leanings.
—Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 22 Dec. 2025
Each has its own unique political history and with that its own ideological leanings.
—Averi Harper, ABC News, 10 Dec. 2025
The makeup of Her’s transition team — drawn from a mix of campaign staff, former state Capitol workers and recent city and county employees — may still offer some clues as to her leanings.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
In 2022, photos of Sweeney at a family birthday party where guests wearing MAGA-style caps went viral, raising eyebrows and soliciting questions about her own political leanings.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
Everyone in the world does not and should not be defined by their political leanings, their race, their gender, their beliefs.
—Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
That declaration ultimately ended up encapsulating the vibe of a good portion of my 2025 music leanings, along with the addition of my penchant for good-old-fashioned soppy crooners, all of which contain a through line of really solid storytelling.
—Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2025
Given the state’s Republican leanings, whoever wins the GOP primary for Lummis’s seat is all but certainly poised to win the general election next year.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 23 Dec. 2025
Australian authorities say the suspects in the Bondi Beach shooting filmed a video manifesto that was littered with antisemitism and Islamic State leanings.
—Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 22 Dec. 2025
Each has its own unique political history and with that its own ideological leanings.
—Averi Harper, ABC News, 10 Dec. 2025
The makeup of Her’s transition team — drawn from a mix of campaign staff, former state Capitol workers and recent city and county employees — may still offer some clues as to her leanings.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
In 2022, photos of Sweeney at a family birthday party where guests wearing MAGA-style caps went viral, raising eyebrows and soliciting questions about her own political leanings.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leanings
Noun
-
True to career tendencies, Cronenworth began 2025 on a tear only to slow as the season wore on.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Yet the fact that fascistic tendencies are stirring doesn’t mean fascism has taken hold.—
Marc Novicoff,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The trick is to select a paint color that is calming and neutral enough so as not to be too visually demanding, while also speaking to your personal style and color inclinations.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Ramírez attended the Liceo Fermín Toro, a public school with a reputation for revolutionary politics and catering to high-society families of slightly bohemian inclinations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Even trends that may ultimately prove fleeting are rooted in intention, soul, and purpose.—
Amanda Lauren,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Regardless of your thoughts on the 2016 renaissance, piercing trends have continued to expand and evolve.—
Marianne Mychaskiw,
Allure,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This model reflects Japan’s long-standing corporate culture, which prioritizes new hires for their general potential—their aptitudes and aspirations, as opposed to their current skill sets or university majors—and then trains them on the job.—
GRACIA LIU-FARRER,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Nov. 2025
-
More money is apt to make homeschooling worse and far less tailored to the individual student and their interests and aptitudes by encouraging parents to substitute pricey group programs for the requisite effort of individualized instruction.—
Marie Sapirie,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Neurons pulse, blood flows, and hidden rhythms rise and fall like slow ocean tides.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Jan. 2026
-
As a 2015 study from Herpetological Monographs explains, the crab-eating frog inhabits environments that swing dramatically between freshwater and full seawater with tides and rainfall.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The driving rock guitars and layered vocal textures recall TV on the Radio’s experimentation, and Galanin shares certain vocal and political affinities with Moses Sumney.—
Petala Ironcloud,
Pitchfork,
20 Jan. 2026
-
China’s global influence is further constrained by weak cultural affinities with other countries.—
Zongyuan Zoe Liu,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
While driving around, Wilson spotted Ruiz walking to work and stopped to ask for directions.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Interestingly enough, gold and silver moved in the opposite directions, reaching record highs, according to a Bloomberg article.—
Charles Lloyd Bovaird II,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leanings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leanings. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
