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
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Recent Examples of leans
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
While the Baltimore sneaker leans bold, the Washington design takes on a lighter feel.
—Michael Howes, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2026
Hallquist, who has served as alderman since 2020, advocates for more efficient government and affordable housing and leans more progressive than most of his fellow council members.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Unlike traditional product launches, this one leans heavily on exclusivity.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2026
This mixed-material light leans coastal with an industrial edge.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2026
Adirondack chairs tend to look and feel traditional, but thanks to its clean lines, this Ezra Outdoor Adirondack Chair leans more modern.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2026
Maine generally leans toward Democrats, having backed former Vice President Kamala Harris by about 7 percentage points in 2024, but Collins has won by large margins in the past because of her personal popularity and more bipartisan record.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Taken together, the package leans more toward versatility and performance than everyday practicality.
—New Atlas, 25 Mar. 2026
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
Dressed in a plaid button up, the 41-year-old leans into a digital camera on a tripod, with a long telephoto lens pointed toward that plane, and slowly counts.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026
Instead of tomato, this crowd favorite leans into its winter white moment with a rich homemade white sauce made from butter, flour, garlic, and whole milk.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
The lobby bar also leans indulgent with a caviar happy hour and bar bites like the Rosemary Tallow Pommes Frites.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
While the Baltimore sneaker leans bold, the Washington design takes on a lighter feel.
—Michael Howes, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2026
Hallquist, who has served as alderman since 2020, advocates for more efficient government and affordable housing and leans more progressive than most of his fellow council members.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Unlike traditional product launches, this one leans heavily on exclusivity.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2026
This mixed-material light leans coastal with an industrial edge.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2026
Adirondack chairs tend to look and feel traditional, but thanks to its clean lines, this Ezra Outdoor Adirondack Chair leans more modern.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2026
Maine generally leans toward Democrats, having backed former Vice President Kamala Harris by about 7 percentage points in 2024, but Collins has won by large margins in the past because of her personal popularity and more bipartisan record.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Taken together, the package leans more toward versatility and performance than everyday practicality.
—New Atlas, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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
Dressed in a plaid button up, the 41-year-old leans into a digital camera on a tripod, with a long telephoto lens pointed toward that plane, and slowly counts.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026
Instead of tomato, this crowd favorite leans into its winter white moment with a rich homemade white sauce made from butter, flour, garlic, and whole milk.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leans
Verb
-
To perform forward motion, the two rear rotors increase speed while the front rotors simultaneously reduce speed, creating an imbalance that tilts the drone and propels it forward.—
Etiido Uko
March 30,
New Atlas,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The public mood is dark, the president is underwater, and the congressional ballot already tilts toward the opposition.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At the greatest depths, where temperatures and pressures are highest, the kerogen tends to split into smaller hydrocarbons such as methane, the main component in natural gas.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Rainwater tends to stockpile on the edges of roads.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Iraqi militias form a key node in Iran’s network of regional proxies opposed to the US and Israel, and Baghdad also relies on Tehran for supplies of natural gas.—
Patrick Sykes,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Kuwait relies on desalination for 90% of its fresh water, with at least half a dozen plants operating to meet the need.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
3 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 survival of African biennials depends on strategic reinvention.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
That depends on how far the Hornets go this postseason and what president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson has as his vision for the team’s starting power forward moving, well, forward beyond the 2026-27 campaign.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This is the standard for ramp inclinations that are usable for most people, especially wheelchair users.—
K. Desbouis,
Artforum,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Trump’s inclinations to make every race about him could foul this for the GOP.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leans. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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