1
as in tilts
to set or cause to be at an angle
just lean the ladder against the tree and climb up it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inclines
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon
the wall has enough of a lean that we can't set a bookcase against it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of leans
Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
Gouzer leans into that discomfort.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 7 May 2026
The dynamic pricing model the United States uses for airlines, concerts and sports tickets leans into the resale markets as any consumer knows.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026
The office itself leans toward old-school classicism, its conference and sitting rooms decorated with museum-quality Hudson River School paintings and 19th-century antiques.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 6 May 2026
The delicious new shape leans into consumer demand for innovative textures and festive shapes, and follows the brand's success with the snowman shape last year.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
The silhouette leans toward straight-legged, but with a roomy, relaxed twist that exudes effortless style.
—Claire West, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
Chenot Palace Weggis, on the shores of Lake Lucerne at the foot of the Swiss Alps, leans into cutting-edge health innovation.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
Samsung’s clamshell leans into a more clean, minimalist design with a traditional matte glass and aluminum chassis.
—Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 6 May 2026
Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 1 May 2026
If home aesthetic leans minimalistic, this simple, soft quilt set may be your perfect bedding match.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
Whether your aesthetic leans more tailored or bohemian, traditional or minimalist, there’s a bouclé, velvet, or wood wingback bed that’s destined for your space.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 10 Apr. 2026
The official property listing leans into the rarity of the apartment’s layout and its position high above the city.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Affia’s catalog leans into science fiction and fantasy stories centered on Black characters.
—Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Tronque’s formula harnesses green coffee and caffeine to help support skin elasticity, while Cyklar’s blend leans into barrier care with ceramides, urea, and squalane.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2026
Even if Project Hail Mary at times leans into the sentiment to an almost saccharine degree, the movie’s natural sweetness is disarming.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
No one is competing for attention—the aesthetic leans East Coast understated luxury, with linen sets, oversized sun hats, and Hermès slides rather than logo-forward designer pieces—but most guests dress just polished enough to match the surrounding setting.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
The Ice Cream Shack, which opened in late April from owner Jorge Prado, leans into both scoops and paletas with flavors like cheesecake, Dubai chocolate, Ferrero Rocher, lemon, mango, tres leches and watermelon.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
Gouzer leans into that discomfort.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 7 May 2026
The dynamic pricing model the United States uses for airlines, concerts and sports tickets leans into the resale markets as any consumer knows.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026
The office itself leans toward old-school classicism, its conference and sitting rooms decorated with museum-quality Hudson River School paintings and 19th-century antiques.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 6 May 2026
The delicious new shape leans into consumer demand for innovative textures and festive shapes, and follows the brand's success with the snowman shape last year.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
The silhouette leans toward straight-legged, but with a roomy, relaxed twist that exudes effortless style.
—Claire West, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
Chenot Palace Weggis, on the shores of Lake Lucerne at the foot of the Swiss Alps, leans into cutting-edge health innovation.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
Samsung’s clamshell leans into a more clean, minimalist design with a traditional matte glass and aluminum chassis.
—Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 6 May 2026
Noun
Musically, Middle of Nowhere leans into traditions shaped in small-town Texas dancehalls (pedal steel, Norteño accordion and other border-blurring textures) but rarely plays it straight.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 1 May 2026
If home aesthetic leans minimalistic, this simple, soft quilt set may be your perfect bedding match.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
Whether your aesthetic leans more tailored or bohemian, traditional or minimalist, there’s a bouclé, velvet, or wood wingback bed that’s destined for your space.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 10 Apr. 2026
The official property listing leans into the rarity of the apartment’s layout and its position high above the city.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Affia’s catalog leans into science fiction and fantasy stories centered on Black characters.
—Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Tronque’s formula harnesses green coffee and caffeine to help support skin elasticity, while Cyklar’s blend leans into barrier care with ceramides, urea, and squalane.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2026
Even if Project Hail Mary at times leans into the sentiment to an almost saccharine degree, the movie’s natural sweetness is disarming.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
No one is competing for attention—the aesthetic leans East Coast understated luxury, with linen sets, oversized sun hats, and Hermès slides rather than logo-forward designer pieces—but most guests dress just polished enough to match the surrounding setting.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leans
Verb
-
The trail eventually tilts back down toward the city, where car honks and train horns replace the cries of birds and insects.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
-
That probably tilts the meter barely in favor of no.—
Varun Shankar,
Houston Chronicle,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Harassment tends to happen while Metro passengers wait for either the bus or train; bus stops are particularly vulnerable.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Historically, the president’s party tends to lose seats in the midterms.—
David A. Lieb,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
The art of effortless jewelry relies on brands with a deft design eye—classic but not boring; modern but subtle enough to layer with the rest of your look.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
2 May 2026
-
The county operates the second largest public hospital system in the state, Santa Clara Valley Healthcare, which runs four hospitals and 15 clinics across the county and relies heavily on revenues from the public insurance program.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Between slick tiles and steep inclines, locals rely on comfortable, supportive shoes—usually sleek sneakers, sturdy flats, or low-profile sandals.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The story follows struggling creatives navigating debt, eviction threats and a precarious gig economy, visualized in Riley’s inventive style — from looming piles of eviction notices to characters literally struggling up and down steep inclines that mirror the instability of their lives.—
Deborah Sengupta Stith,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Safer travel can be found on lower-angle terrain, generally slopes less than 30 degrees, particularly in areas sheltered from the wind.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
One of my favorite choices is developing a dry creek bed that slopes away from a home's foundation.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
To source that special blend, the state depends on in-state refineries or importing fuel refined to that standard from abroad.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
-
The challenge is compounded by the fact that much of the government’s evaluation effort depends on cooperation from the same companies building the models.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Who knew that such daring would lead to a film that avoids these inclinations entirely, especially one that could have so easily leaned into controversial territory?—
David Opie,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Samuel Alito’s inclinations have not been hard to discern lately.—
Peter S. Canellos,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leans. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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