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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of leans
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
Expensive This elevated, woody take on matcha leans clean and refined.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 29 Jan. 2026
Her personal preference leans slightly richer, in the direction of Sherwin-Williams’ Dried Thyme, a shade with enough depth to make a statement without sacrificing quietude.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
The atmosphere leans playful and social, pairing communal reactions with drink and food specials that keep the night moving well beyond the final reveal.
—Holly Alvarado, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
The podcast leans into Povich's reporting instincts, giving him space to talk openly about his own experiences.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Unlike the casual pizza and pasta served at its sister restaurant, Via Aurelia leans upscale, with a five-course tasting option and an extensive wine list that roams Italy and beyond.
—Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Set behind gates in Tulum, the villa leans fully into minimalist architecture with its clean lines, gallery-like living spaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the outdoors like living art.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 27 Jan. 2026
Downtown Napa leans more culinary and contemporary, with a lively collection of restaurants, such as Angèle Restaurant & Bar, tasting rooms, and art spaces along the riverfront.
—Taryn White, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
India Roby, InStyle, 16 Jan. 2026
The Sade Girl aesthetic leans into this style but embraces the singer’s sultry look—think effortless and chic.
—Essence, 16 Jan. 2026
There's something for everyone, whether your aesthetic leans neutral, bold, or somewhere in between.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 6 Jan. 2026
While the Torel brand is, undoubtedly, Portuguese in history and design, this section of the hotel slightly steps away from the norm and leans towards a more Middle Eastern aesthetic.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Jan. 2026
The great news is there's a style for everyone, whether your aesthetic leans rustic, mod, colorful, and beyond.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2025
Their catalog is rock, but leans toward folk, blues and pop.
—Melonee Hurt, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Dec. 2025
With two more progressives already on the 11-member council — Alison Coombs, whose term isn’t up until 2027, and Ruben Medina, who was reelected to his Ward III seat last month — the body now firmly leans left.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 2 Dec. 2025
To that, despite the sometimes overly bipartisan leans of his podcast that debuted in March with a Charlie Kirk chat, Newsom has substantial industry connections and policies like Prop 50 and the tax credits expansion to draw upon.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Dec. 2025
Verb
The script leans heavily on exposition — internal monologues, disembodied intercom voices, and hallucinatory flashbacks — to communicate lore that might have resonated more powerfully through action or environment.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
Expensive This elevated, woody take on matcha leans clean and refined.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 29 Jan. 2026
Her personal preference leans slightly richer, in the direction of Sherwin-Williams’ Dried Thyme, a shade with enough depth to make a statement without sacrificing quietude.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
The atmosphere leans playful and social, pairing communal reactions with drink and food specials that keep the night moving well beyond the final reveal.
—Holly Alvarado, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
The podcast leans into Povich's reporting instincts, giving him space to talk openly about his own experiences.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Unlike the casual pizza and pasta served at its sister restaurant, Via Aurelia leans upscale, with a five-course tasting option and an extensive wine list that roams Italy and beyond.
—Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Set behind gates in Tulum, the villa leans fully into minimalist architecture with its clean lines, gallery-like living spaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the outdoors like living art.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 27 Jan. 2026
Downtown Napa leans more culinary and contemporary, with a lively collection of restaurants, such as Angèle Restaurant & Bar, tasting rooms, and art spaces along the riverfront.
—Taryn White, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
At times, poetcore leans into hipster territory.
—India Roby, InStyle, 16 Jan. 2026
The Sade Girl aesthetic leans into this style but embraces the singer’s sultry look—think effortless and chic.
—Essence, 16 Jan. 2026
There's something for everyone, whether your aesthetic leans neutral, bold, or somewhere in between.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 6 Jan. 2026
While the Torel brand is, undoubtedly, Portuguese in history and design, this section of the hotel slightly steps away from the norm and leans towards a more Middle Eastern aesthetic.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Jan. 2026
The great news is there's a style for everyone, whether your aesthetic leans rustic, mod, colorful, and beyond.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2025
Their catalog is rock, but leans toward folk, blues and pop.
—Melonee Hurt, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Dec. 2025
With two more progressives already on the 11-member council — Alison Coombs, whose term isn’t up until 2027, and Ruben Medina, who was reelected to his Ward III seat last month — the body now firmly leans left.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 2 Dec. 2025
To that, despite the sometimes overly bipartisan leans of his podcast that debuted in March with a Charlie Kirk chat, Newsom has substantial industry connections and policies like Prop 50 and the tax credits expansion to draw upon.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leans
Verb
-
Ford tilts his head back with a chuckle.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Even the display screen tilts forward.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Morina’s complex screenplay has little interest in moral binaries, which tends to leave the politics unspoken.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Brentford’s recruitment tends to favour young, relatively unheralded players with strong underlying numbers.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Speaking out, the chief’s supporters say, risks inviting backlash from the White House and could also affect the long pipeline of federal money the department relies on, for instance, to help fund de-escalation training for officers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The look relies on intentional placement, quality pieces, and cozy materials like wood and linen.—
Erica Puisis,
The Spruce,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But the car—small, low to the ground, and exceedingly heavy, owing to the ballistic steel and glass—is not suited to a city like Caracas, which is rife with steep inclines and deep potholes, and is best travelled in a four-by-four.—
Armando Ledezma,
New Yorker,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Its flexible 3-layer HydroWall shell is completely waterproof and still breathable, with pit zips to release excess heat on steep inclines.—
Annita Katee,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The road, lined with two-story homes on each side, slopes down a gradual hill.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, seawater intrudes like an advancing army toward thicker ice, which rests on bedrock that slopes inward toward the bowl-like center of the continent.—
Evan Howell,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Solopreneurship may be the default way of starting a business, but survival increasingly depends on how effectively founders use AI.—
Alison Coleman,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Coaxing those green shoots to sprout depends on the type of seed's temperature, light, and moisture requirements.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Trump’s inclinations to make every race about him could foul this for the GOP.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Leans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leans. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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