as in influence
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly
lacking much of the leverage it once had, the union is now being forced to make some concessions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to use
to take unfair advantage of
a reality show contestant who's trying to leverage her 15 minutes of fame
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of leverage
Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
Iran, meanwhile, has suggested charging tolls on the data passing through cables off its shores, the author of a book on the undersea network noted; cables in the Strait of Hormuz carry about 20% of global data flow, giving Tehran another point of leverage over Washington.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 4 June 2026
Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2026
Since this is the label’s initial foray into jeans, the Western Hemisphere will be leveraged to fill reorder requests quickly based on the response to styles in the market.
—Sj Studio, Footwear News, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for leverage
Noun
India is maximizing leverage across competing relationships while refusing permanent dependence on any of them.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
Iran, meanwhile, has suggested charging tolls on the data passing through cables off its shores, the author of a book on the undersea network noted; cables in the Strait of Hormuz carry about 20% of global data flow, giving Tehran another point of leverage over Washington.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 4 June 2026
Verb
Home warranties, renovation loans, or leveraging home equity can also help offset costs, particularly for homeowners who don’t yet have sufficient savings.
—Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2026
Since this is the label’s initial foray into jeans, the Western Hemisphere will be leveraged to fill reorder requests quickly based on the response to styles in the market.
—Sj Studio, Footwear News, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for leverage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leverage
Noun
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Everything first lady occupies multiple floors, including a small theater showing films, and rotating and themed exhibits exploring the influence and legacies of presidential counterparts throughout American history.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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Portugal’s influence on arguably the team of the decade, the back-to-back European champions, is, once again, disproportionate for a nation of its size.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Tabbed nothing less than the golden generation, they were meant to grow a sport that long had roots but never could quite blossom, using the soil of their own country to do it.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
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Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026
Noun
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But Tehran drew a red line on the Dahiyeh, the southern suburbs of Beirut where Hezbollah holds sway.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
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Much of Tuesday’s violence took place in working-class areas where former paramilitary groups still hold considerable sway over the streets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Ramaphosa accused these groups of exploiting migration anxieties to sow division through lawlessness and violence.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
8 June 2026
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This feels less like a billing problem and more like a system failure that the company is exploiting.—
Christopher Elliott,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
Verb
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What online scammers are looking to steal The FBI issued a warning last month that cybercriminals are manipulating or reproducing the official FIFA World Cup website to scam fans who are looking for tickets, hospitality packages, merchandise, streaming access and betting opportunities.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
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Ironically then, the state’s efforts to verify the legitimacy of ballots lengthen the count, which then leads to allegations that the count is being manipulated.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Moreover, the states often abused their authority, both over their own citizens and with regard to each other.—
Jordan Cash,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
-
And did the court abuse its discretion by imposing the 60-year minimum?—
Tom Olsen,
Twin Cities,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leverage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leverage. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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