LEANS (ON OR AGAINST) Synonyms: 20 Similar Words

leans (on or against)

verb

present tense third-person singular of lean (on or against)

as in bears (down)

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for leans (on or against)

Verb

Not the kind of empathy that simply allows someone to understand another person’s struggles, but the kind that compels them to do something about it.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Here, Hendrikx plays anthropologist to a culture that compels each of us—whether a rider or not—to find our own vehicle for fulfillment, then take it to redline.

— Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of compels

Verb

Panthers receiver Cataurus Hicks comes down with it and muscles his way forward in an attempt to get into the end zone.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
One year later, the XFL muscles its way onto the national sports scene with its first two games.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026

Definition of muscles

Verb

Moving them forces Republicans to defend high tariffs, an endless war and skyrocketing healthcare costs.

— Thomas Kahn, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
The dinosaur attacks have at least one upside, though, as running from the prehistoric beasts forces Denise and Greg to overcome their marital tension.

— Mya Copeland, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of forces

Verb

Fundamentally, this problem stems from science’s publish-or-perish culture, which pressures academics to constantly publish papers in prestigious journals to secure funding and advance their careers.

— Benjamin Skuse, IEEE Spectrum, 27 Oct. 2026
The majority of his night was spent scrambling from a Seahawks defense that pressures the quarterback at the third-highest rate in the league.

— Sam McDowell October 25, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of pressures

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leans

leans (on or against)

leans (toward or towards)

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“Leans (on or against).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leans%20%28on%20or%20against%29. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of leans (on or against)

verb

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