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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of leans
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The result is less structured than the classic version but more decadent, with a comfort-food feel that leans almost bread pudding-adjacent.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
The interiors combine clean lines with warm materials, and the menu leans Mediterranean, with lots of local seafood.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Citi leans optimistic, however, thinking that some kind of deal will be struck eventually.
—Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
But the Canyon leans into luxury and comfort more than the Colorado.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Some travel days call for carrying less and this JW Pei phone crossbody leans all the way into that mindset.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2026
The bedrooms are designed with privacy in mind (each has its own outdoor moment), while the upstairs suite leans farther into the setting with an open-air shower and sun deck that catch both sunrise and sunset.
—Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2026
The rest of the lineup leans heavy into the eclectic.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
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
Compared to traditional date-night cuisine, Hart’s limited menu leans into pungent ingredients like anchovies, garlic and blue cheese.
—Julian Torres, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
Likewise, the score by Tony Doogan leans too heavily on generic electronic thuds, the kind that segue into a commercial break cliffhanger and an ad for blood pressure medicine.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The result is less structured than the classic version but more decadent, with a comfort-food feel that leans almost bread pudding-adjacent.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
The interiors combine clean lines with warm materials, and the menu leans Mediterranean, with lots of local seafood.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Citi leans optimistic, however, thinking that some kind of deal will be struck eventually.
—Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
But the Canyon leans into luxury and comfort more than the Colorado.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Some travel days call for carrying less and this JW Pei phone crossbody leans all the way into that mindset.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2026
The bedrooms are designed with privacy in mind (each has its own outdoor moment), while the upstairs suite leans farther into the setting with an open-air shower and sun deck that catch both sunrise and sunset.
—Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2026
The rest of the lineup leans heavy into the eclectic.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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
Compared to traditional date-night cuisine, Hart’s limited menu leans into pungent ingredients like anchovies, garlic and blue cheese.
—Julian Torres, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leans
Verb
-
Quantum Accelerator will also feature a Stengel Dive — a maneuver that takes riders over a hill and quickly tilts beyond 90 degrees at the top.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Seasons exist because of the way Earth spins and tilts.—
David Yeomans,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Silicon Valley tends to weigh ethical problems by focusing on measurable consequences.—
Elias Wachtel,
The Atlantic,
25 Apr. 2026
-
And while there’s no way to know what TV shows will be enlisted into shipping discourse, there are two elements that are typically present in media that tends to garner dedicated fans, explains Booth.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rather than focusing only on oil prices, which have been extremely volatile this year, investors may be looking toward infrastructure that the world relies on to move energy commodities.—
Krysta Escobar,
CNBC,
25 Apr. 2026
-
For reference, roughly 60 percent of global textile production relies on polyester and other synthetic fibers.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Servicing a mountainous areas like Escondido drives up costs, as an expensive network of pipes and pump stations is needed to move water up and down considerable inclines, said Kyle Morgan, the city’s acting director of utilities and wastewater.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 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
-
The longer the strait remains closed, the deeper the energy crisis will cut, particularly across Asia, which depends heavily on Gulf oil exports.—
Desiree Adib,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The firm revealed both configurations are designed to reduce acoustic signatures, a key requirement for anti-submarine warfare missions where detection depends heavily on sound profiles in the water.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Apr. 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 26 Apr. 2026.
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