lean 1 of 3

1
as in to tilt
to set or cause to be at an angle just lean the ladder against the tree and climb up it

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2
as in to tend
to show a liking or proneness (for something) the family's diet leans toward greasy food

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3

lean

2 of 3

adjective

lean

3 of 3

noun

as in slope
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

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How does the adjective lean contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of lean are gaunt, lanky, lank, rawboned, scrawny, skinny, and spare. While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours.

a lean racehorse

When is gaunt a more appropriate choice than lean?

The words gaunt and lean can be used in similar contexts, but gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering.

a prisoner's gaunt face

When is it sensible to use lank instead of lean?

The words lank and lean are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lank implies tallness as well as leanness.

the lank legs of the heron

When would lanky be a good substitute for lean?

The synonyms lanky and lean are sometimes interchangeable, but lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness.

a lanky youth, all arms and legs

In what contexts can rawboned take the place of lean?

The meanings of rawboned and lean largely overlap; however, rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment.

a rawboned farmer

How do scrawny and skinny relate to one another, in the sense of lean?

Both scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality.

a scrawny chicken
skinny street urchins

When could spare be used to replace lean?

While the synonyms spare and lean are close in meaning, spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise.

the gymnast's spare figure

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 lean
Verb
The Blue Jays have leaned heavily on José Berríos, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt and Bowden Francis to carry the load as the team sorts through fifth starter troubles. Will Sammon, New York Times, 3 May 2025 Isaacs leaned into the conservative bona fides of NEA grants. Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 2 May 2025
Adjective
In a review, researchers found that taking creatine after exercise led to a 3% gain in lean body mass and a 7.5% gain in bench press strength. Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 22 Apr. 2025 Besides grilled lean meats such as poultry or fish, opt for vegetarian sources such as nuts, beans/legumes/lentils, tofu, tempeh and Greek yogurt. Denise Maher, Flow Space, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
Among 18- to 29-year-olds, his approval is 46 percent, suggesting Gen Z support despite their historical Democratic lean. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025 Trump’s strong local finish does not mark a sudden conservative awakening, just as the region’s previous Democratic lean did not reflect an unwavering progressive faith. Gil Rebollar, The Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lean
Verb
  • Transform Effects The program includes 11 picture-in-picture (PiP) presets in the Transform group under Video FX, including Angle Left and Angle Right, which tilt your video on a 3D plane.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
  • And then the camera tilts up from the throng of sweaty revelers to reveal a canopy of brightly glowing embers.
    A.A. Dowd, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Some platforms tend to remove the grisliest content, and some ban a few cartels outright.
    Antón Barba-Kay, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2025
  • The sector’s blue chips tend to be overcrowded, which is a recipe for limited yields.
    Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • As for the myth, Rollo-Koster said eras in history when people relied on prophecies reveal a lack of control about their lives and deaths.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 May 2025
  • The lock relies on Z-Wave but also needs to be synced to an ADT+ base for this to work.
    Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 3 May 2025
Adjective
  • Keep scrolling to shop more skinny jeans, blazers, and button-down shirts inspired by Kate Middleton’s outfit blueprint below.
    Averi Baudler, People.com, 1 May 2025
  • These cars, with their skinny tires up front, skeletal body and explosive engine, generate up to 11,000 to 12,000 horsepower and reach speeds in the mid-300 mphs in just 1,000 feet and require parachutes to safely arrive at a stop.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Heavy equipment was sent into the hole via a slope and walls had to be built to ensure the safety of rescue workers, the outlet added.
    Latoya Gayle, People.com, 2 May 2025
  • The Dalarna region is Sweden at its best, with dense forests speckling the landscape, a web of foot trails, dramatic waterfalls, gentle slopes for hiking and skiing, and placid lakes, including one of the country’s largest, Lake Siljan.
    Jeanine Barone, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • De Bruyne’s relentless creativity in the final third has thrived over the years Manchester, at the heart of a team that can control the ball close to goal, with dangerous runs angled towards goal from talented attacking players.
    Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The remedy phase of Google's antitrust trial is underway, with the government angling to realign Google's business after the company was ruled a search monopolist.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The process of changing plans is often daunting and success depends on many factors, some beyond your control.
    Diane Omdahl, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
  • Whether the economy will bounce back will depend on what consumers and firms do.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • And those guesses rely on default templates drawn from overrepresented groups in media and training data: cisgender, white, able-bodied, thin.
    Diana Spehar, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
  • The weakness of the Flash 22 is the shoulder straps, which are quite thin.
    Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lean. Accessed 10 May. 2025.

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