as in oblique
running in a slanting direction
the leaning tower of Pisa is a popular tourist attraction in Italy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in direction
a prevailing or general movement or inclination
the news media are often accused of having liberal leanings
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in tendency
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
despite what his athletic leanings might suggest, he was actually a very lazy kid
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in tilting
to set or cause to be at an angle
just lean the ladder against the tree and climb up it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tending
to show a liking or proneness (for something)
the family's diet leans toward greasy food
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in relying
to place reliance or trust
you can always lean on me if you need help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of leaning
James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Jones could reveal his political leanings during the board’s April 19 vote to select a new chair.
—Nora O’Neill, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2025
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Casually leaning back in a chair, surrounded by other retirees in Plantation, Marc Kaye, 78, expresses the same emotions as Wilde.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leaning
Noun
This has sparked intense interest in Prevost's background, along with his religious and political leanings.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Jones could reveal his political leanings during the board’s April 19 vote to select a new chair.
—Nora O’Neill, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2025
Verb
Voila, the best of both worlds entails leaning into generative AI and LLMs as your negotiating tutor.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Casually leaning back in a chair, surrounded by other retirees in Plantation, Marc Kaye, 78, expresses the same emotions as Wilde.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leaning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaning
Adjective
-
Zack Steffen made his return to action after an oblique injury in mid-May took him off the field before a knee injury at U.S. Men’s National Team camp required surgery.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
13 July 2025
-
The injury isn’t related to the oblique strain that landed him on the IL in May, according to the training staff, but Winker already has a history of back injuries.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
They’re then added into the mascarpone mixture one spoonful at a time, while stirring gently in the same direction to achieve a consistent light and airy texture.—
Bryce Jones,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 July 2025
-
Always follow package directions when applying fertilizer to your garden to avoid over-fertilizing.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
This practice has fostered a tendency to conflate diagnosis with management frameworks, confuse co-morbidities with symptoms, and ultimately blur the distinction between obesity as a risk factor and as a disease state.—
Francesco Rubino,
Time,
9 July 2025
-
Traits shape your willingness to try new things, your perception of effort, and your comfort level in different environments—making exercise a natural outlet for expressing these tendencies, said Matthew Sacco, PhD, a sports medicine psychologist at Cleveland Clinic.—
Brian Mastroianni,
Health,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
The trailer for With Love, Meghan was released two weeks ahead of the show's premiere and features the Duchess performing a number of activities from tending to a beehive to arranging flowers at a shop and hosting a mix of friends and celebrity guests.—
Rebecca Aizin,
People.com,
3 Jan. 2025
-
The trailer for With Love, Meghan was released two weeks ahead of the show's premiere and features the Duchess performing a number of activities from tending to a beehive to arranging flowers at a shop and hosting a mix of friends and celebrity guests.—
Rebecca Aizin,
People.com,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Heightened by the absence of Klay Thompson’s floor-spacing, Curry has been facing kitchen-sink defenses and relying on role players to relieve the building pressure.—
Marcus Thompson II,
The Athletic,
4 Jan. 2025
-
Use curiosity to guide problem-solving instead of relying on control.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes,
4 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
This may be the last, best window for pro-innovation crypto rules before a future political realignment shifts the tides.—
Jason Brett,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
Now that viewers have had a chance to see Hyun-ju’s two-season arc, the tide has turned around his casting.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
At the Soul Train Awards in 1997, Da Brat arrived outfitted in a similarly referential look, but her look evoked tomboy inclinations.—
Julian Randall,
Essence,
3 July 2025
-
At a June 5 press conference, one day after the General Assembly closed the regular 2024 session, the governor gave his strongest indication to date of an inclination to seek another four-year term with Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
The trend for Thursday through the weekend looks very seasonable for mid July as high pressure builds.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
9 July 2025
-
While violent and property crime across almost every category has been down in Milwaukee in 2025 compared to this time last year, homicides have risen, continuing a trend that began six months ago.—
Jack Albright,
jsonline.com,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Leaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaning. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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