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
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Recent Examples of leanings
In recent years, even states that have skewed more conservative in their political leanings, such as Missouri, Nebraska, and Florida, have voted overwhelmingly to increase their minimum wage to $15 an hour.
—
Paxton Honerkamp,
CNBC,
21 June 2026
Trump has long invoked the term against a range of political opponents, including peaceful protesters without anarchist-leanings.
—
ABC News,
16 June 2026
The political leanings of a man accused of arson have become a key issue in a high-stakes case over the cause of the most destructive fire in Los Angeles' history.
—
Swasti Singhai,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
There have been no in-depth conversations or leanings as to Rogers’ preferred destination.
—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
During that period of time, the majority of American journalists worked for newspapers with definite political leanings, and many newspapers were started by the parties themselves.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
26 May 2026
Bishop Eckman says this resurgence is not a political movement and the new Catholics are right-wing, left-wing and in the middle — driven by their heart rather than their political leanings.
—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
26 May 2026
Her 15 months in the role were marked by friction with Trump sparked by her more libertarian leanings — her past opposition to war with Iran, for one, made for particularly awkward Hill testimony soon after the president entered the current conflict.
—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
22 May 2026
With ideological division in the Republican Party over social issues and approaches to government spending, the type of bills the Idaho Legislature passes can change dramatically based on the leanings of the Republicans who get elected.
—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
20 May 2026
Paxton Honerkamp,
CNBC,
21 June 2026
Trump has long invoked the term against a range of political opponents, including peaceful protesters without anarchist-leanings.
—
ABC News,
16 June 2026
The political leanings of a man accused of arson have become a key issue in a high-stakes case over the cause of the most destructive fire in Los Angeles' history.
—
Swasti Singhai,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
There have been no in-depth conversations or leanings as to Rogers’ preferred destination.
—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
During that period of time, the majority of American journalists worked for newspapers with definite political leanings, and many newspapers were started by the parties themselves.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
26 May 2026
Bishop Eckman says this resurgence is not a political movement and the new Catholics are right-wing, left-wing and in the middle — driven by their heart rather than their political leanings.
—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
26 May 2026
Her 15 months in the role were marked by friction with Trump sparked by her more libertarian leanings — her past opposition to war with Iran, for one, made for particularly awkward Hill testimony soon after the president entered the current conflict.
—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
22 May 2026
With ideological division in the Republican Party over social issues and approaches to government spending, the type of bills the Idaho Legislature passes can change dramatically based on the leanings of the Republicans who get elected.
—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leanings
Noun
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The only real scoring chances arrived in the dying moments of a game that carried macabre tendencies, long after the match had devolved into a turf war.
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Across 15 tracks, the rapper and producer get to work making their first proper body of work together as memorable as expected, delving into relationship mishaps, selfish tendencies, and the absurdist comedy that is real life.
Noun
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Choosing a college major has always felt like a big life decision, influenced by not only personal inclinations and talents, but also by starting salaries—new engineering and computer science grads earn more than those with English degrees.
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There were inclinations to not fully believe in their capabilities against Argentina.
Noun
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In fact, 72% of Gen Z look to social media for food and drink-focused wellness trends, according to 2025 data shared with CNBC by food & beverages analytics firm Datassentials.
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The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people — including current events and the sights and sounds of the United States.
Noun
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For this class, the premise is that your purpose in life lies to the intersection of your values, your aptitudes and your interests.
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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.
Noun
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The tides might be turning on the notoriously cold customer service in Paris.
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February 19 – March 20 Soft strength carries you across shifting tides today.
Noun
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Spanish society has always had a relatively high tolerance for Latin American immigrants, who speak the local language and share certain cultural affinities.
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Squarcialupi said the time is now ripe for the brand to cross borders, toward Spain and other Mediterranean countries that have affinities with Italy.
Noun
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Gunfire rang out into the vehicle until both men eventually ran away in opposite directions.
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Mercury stations retrograde in Cancer in your 3rd House of Communication, making texts, directions, calls, errands, and local plans easier to misread.
Cite this Entry
“Leanings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leanings. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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