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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in skinny
having a noticeably small amount of body fat
all of the marathoners are extremely lean
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lean
Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 4 May 2026
Ohanian could be seen hanging his younger daughter from her leg while his older daughter leaned into him.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 May 2026
And soon after that physical, the lean, 6-foot-4 baseball and basketball player couldn’t walk upstairs without a racing heartbeat and dizziness.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
Evan Moore
april 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 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
See All Example Sentences for lean
Verb
In the early 2000s, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were the most Republican-leaning religious group in the country.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 4 May 2026
Ohanian could be seen hanging his younger daughter from her leg while his older daughter leaned into him.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
Adjective
On the other hand, most high-yield savings accounts come from online-only banks, which can and often do pass their leaner cost structure on to customers in the form of better rates.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 May 2026
And soon after that physical, the lean, 6-foot-4 baseball and basketball player couldn’t walk upstairs without a racing heartbeat and dizziness.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
Noun
Hand rolls at Sharigato lean into fresh, simple flavors.
—Evan Moore
april 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 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
See All Example Sentences for lean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lean
Verb
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Republicans, meanwhile, hated everything that Democrats loved about Obama and often tilted into grotesque smears.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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About 1 in 6 households nationwide has a net worth above $1 million, and, because the occasional billionaire tilts the scale, the average American family has passed that seven-figure benchmark.—
Matthew Lynn,
Washington Post,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Granted, many of the commentators offering these predictions are employed by traditional universities, and might tend to believe more strongly in the enduring relevance of the academy.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
5 May 2026
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The theme of each Met Gala, which sets the tone for the evening’s dress code, tends to correspond with that year’s Costume Institute fashion exhibition.—
Dalila Muata,
NBC news,
5 May 2026
Verb
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As this country is constantly adapting to changing world geopolitical events, Congress and the president must rely on information from the administration to make informed decisions in the best national interest of the United States.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
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Arimatsu’s team is continuing the search for atmospheres around other TNOs by relying on stellar occultation observations.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Originally introduced in 2012, the concept was a bestseller between 2014 and 2019 while skinny jeans were still on trend.—
Sarah Jones,
Footwear News,
29 Apr. 2026
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And skinny labeling, which amounts to a carve-out tactic, is one way that Congress attempted to foster more competition and benefit consumers.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The sight took me by surprise because this species tends to hang out in the understory of dense forests, often on steep slopes.—
Kate Wong,
Scientific American,
1 May 2026
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Felton Road is located in the Bannockburn subregion of Central Otago and grows grapes in four vineyards planted on north-facing slopes comprised of glacial soils.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Ride-share drivers angle for drop-offs.—
Andrew Chrismer,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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For people angling for a longer-term stay, the desks built into window nooks, the dedicated children’s room with bunk beds, and the 16-seater dining table fit for a feast encourages getting comfortable in your temporary home.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Architectural Digest,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The way coffee interacts with adenosine and cortisol is really complex, and can differ from person to person, depending on their biology, circumstances, and environment.—
Teresa Maalouf,
Verywell Health,
29 Apr. 2026
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Treatment frequency typically depends on your starting point and your specific biology.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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There have also been suggestions that a dwarf planet called Makemake, which is slightly smaller than Pluto, could have a very thin atmosphere, though some scientists are skeptical.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
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Astronomers have detected a thin atmosphere around a tiny celestial body in the outer solar system for the first time — an object previously thought to be too small to support the presence of an atmosphere.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lean. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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