LEANS Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

leans 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of lean

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

as in tends

to show a liking or proneness (for something) the family's diet leans toward greasy food

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in relies

to place reliance or trust you can always lean on me if you need help

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

leans

2 of 2

noun

plural of lean

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 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 leans

Verb

The directive, reported earlier by The New York Times, leans heavily on a dissenting opinion from former Justice Antonin Scalia in a 1995 Supreme Court case. — Matthew Brown, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026 However, there’s a lone taco in the mix that leans into Tex-Mex flavors. — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2026 If your style leans relaxed, a button-up blouse can make jeans feel dressy. — Aemilia Madden, Glamour, 18 Sep. 2026 The restaurant leans into that Côte d’Azur feel for its design. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2026 The topless moment is a departure from the rest of Reformation’s fall offering, which leans heavily into the brand’s take on prep. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 16 Sep. 2026 Even if your style leans more modern, Salem has a home for you, as Bennett says downtown condos and newer luxury developments provide alternatives to the city’s historic homes. — Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2026 Director Margaret Shigeko Starbuck leans into makeshift theatricality — flashlights, pool noodles, pocket umbrellas — while a nimble ensemble balances meta-theatrical humor with genuine feeling for Pericles and his beleaguered family. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026 The scenery is beautiful, though the onboard entertainment leans into classic all-inclusive territory, complete with a digital saxophone performance, audience participation, and the inevitable Macarena throw down. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026

Noun

This tonal take leans into a moodier palette of gray, purple, and blue, with fish motifs bringing a charming touch to the cool-toned look. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 3 Sep. 2026 The furniture and decor for your little one leans into that fleeting window of imagination, bringing color, whimsy, and playfulness to make their room feel unmistakably theirs. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 31 Aug. 2026 Framed as an ensemble drama rather than the story of a single heroic whistleblower, the production compresses Ibsen’s plot, reimagines the ending and leans into satire without sacrificing moral bite. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Pendleton’s travel-ready design leans into that ritual with a roll-up board printed in one of the heritage brand’s iconic patterns, reversible wooden pieces, and a vegan leather pouch for toting it around. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2026 The cocktail menu leans into the couple’s heritage with some Argentine staples, including the El Clásico of Fernet and Coke and El Diego, concocted with sweet vermouth, Coke and a splash of whiskey. — Rick West, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 In winter, the adults-only retreat leans into its cozy side, inviting guests to curl up by the fireplace, book a spa treatment, and embrace the slower pace of mountain life. — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 20 July 2026 The Glamaker Puff-sleeve Blouse leans into that shift with its mix of eyelet and lace detailing, plus a subtle puff sleeve that adds shape without feeling overdone. — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026 But this version of Zorro leans instead into broad comedy and an even broader vintage aesthetic including day-for-night shooting and a general soft-focus haze. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leans

Verb

Anything less and the balance of the Heat’s offseason — and future — tilts toward an abyss.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
El Niño, the climate pattern of ocean waters warming up in the central and eastern Pacific, tilts the chances in favor of wet winters in Southern California.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of tilts

Verb

Henry recommends keeping a travel-size moisturizer or hydrating mist on hand if your work environment tends to be dry.

— Lindy Segal, Glamour, 22 Sep. 2026
What other research is being done There’s a sizable body of research on sales managers that tends to focus on their leadership behaviors, coaching and role-modeling.

— Daniel E. Chavez, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of tends

Verb

Descano’s team relies too heavily on doctors to answer those questions at the pretrial stage, Stimson told the Washington Examiner.

— Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2026
At the same time, its engine continues operating, whereas a boost-glide weapon relies on the energy and trajectory established during its boost phase.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of relies

Noun

Cows amble in the distance along the inclines of meadows; their grazing helps control invasive plants.

— Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
Bert McCarty, a Clemson University professor of turfgrass science and management, said golfers like how top courses are so different — from incorporating the ocean in places near beaches to relying on inclines in the mountains.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of inclines

Verb

The rest of the Cambria isn’t bad, either, including the shops and galleries along Main Street (which is deceptively long) and the piney slopes above.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
In rivers and streams in Virginia and Maryland, Hack measured the length of each stream and the area of the land that slopes toward that stream and therefore drains into it, called its basin or drainage area.

— Natalie Wolchover, Quanta Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of slopes

Noun

Putin will eventually leave office, whether by death, illness, or—against all observable inclinations—stepping aside.

— Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
People with gene variants that affect these inclinations may also be at a higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes, researchers found.

— Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 28 July 2026