as in to enliven
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Recent Examples of leaven
There are leavening notes here and there: a jazzy sliver of cruciferousness from the cabbage that comes with the kalua pork, or the sharp whistle of vinegar that runs through the thin, sweet sauce drizzled over the juicy, panko-crisped chicken katsu (my clear favorite of the proteins).
—
Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2025
Jewish outrage over the extremism has also been leavened by the seemingly unconditional support for Israel among Trump, Musk and others in the president’s circle, along with Trump’s pledge to punish anti-Israel protesters on college campuses.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2025
But the filmmakers leaven the mood before the hammer drops with a lovely interlude at the Omaha Zoo, an idea planted in Ella’s head by a friendly young mother in line to pay at a gas station.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Jan. 2025
Theroux brings a mix of brash magnetism and commanding frankness to his recurring appearances as Cam, while MacArthur leavens Ness’ doofus, manchild tendencies with an appealing earnestness.
—EW.com, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leaven
Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2025
Jewish outrage over the extremism has also been leavened by the seemingly unconditional support for Israel among Trump, Musk and others in the president’s circle, along with Trump’s pledge to punish anti-Israel protesters on college campuses.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2025
But the filmmakers leaven the mood before the hammer drops with a lovely interlude at the Omaha Zoo, an idea planted in Ella’s head by a friendly young mother in line to pay at a gas station.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Jan. 2025
Theroux brings a mix of brash magnetism and commanding frankness to his recurring appearances as Cam, while MacArthur leavens Ness’ doofus, manchild tendencies with an appealing earnestness.
—EW.com, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leaven
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaven
Verb
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There's the Vanilla Tincture India, vanilla derived from a CO2 extraction, vanilla extract, and an ultra-vanille accord—all enlivened by jasmine, sandalwood, and ambery notes.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
30 May 2025
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Inasmuch as emotional arcs are pitched toward the extreme, domestic and work settings are sketched with a keen anecdotal eye and enlivened with compelling details.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
22 May 2025
Verb
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With a career that spans over three decades, Wen has appeared in pretty much every major Hollywood franchise—from Star Wars to Disney to Marvel—and most famously provided the character voice for the warrior princess Mulan in the 1998 Disney animated musical.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
30 May 2025
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As far as big-budget epic fantasy (that isn’t animated) that leaves us with The Rings Of Power, perhaps the most disappointing television series ever made, geared squarely at the most casual audience.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Verb
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The result spurred years of research around a simple question: Why are those brief, positive moments with co-workers so invigorating?—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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The current menu at Jai consists of hot tea, sold by the glass or pot, along with the herbal elixirs — one invigorating, one calming and one berry.—
Lina Abascal,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2025
Verb
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The hotel's dog-friendly atmosphere infuses the space with warmth, while the nearby Brooklyn Bowl provides an ideal launchpad for nighttime adventures.—
Malik Peay,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
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Abramović’s work has always been educationally infused with Balkan wisdom and sensibilities from her childhood — she was born in Belgrade, Serbia, then part of Yugoslavia.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
24 May 2025
Verb
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Everyone should inculcate the ability to identify root causes and recognize patterns, feedback loops and relationships that influence outcomes rather than focusing on isolated components.—
Balmukund Shukla,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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Nothing left to do but build and inculcate my fantastical atoms, unable to catch a break.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Made by the expert hands of Italian craftsmen — guardians of centuries-old jewelry traditions — these treasures emerge as miniature masterpieces, imbued with an unmistakable allure.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
23 May 2025
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But her watchful, alert bearing imbues the character with a sort of unspoken backstory.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Japanese producers achieve the same end by inoculating their grains — usually rice — with koji mold, which works faster and more efficiently than malting.—
Clay Risen,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2025
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An Ars Technica subscription, if applied topically on a daily basis, should inoculate against dumb Facebook memes and other vectors for brainworm infection.—
Ars Staff,
ArsTechnica,
7 May 2025
Verb
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His work is suffused with such affection for the edge places where Europe bleeds into its others—Venice, Trieste, Alexandria, Algiers—that the continent becomes all edge.—
Nicholas Dames,
Harpers Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
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Kaunas: Where the Grand Duchy Endures As the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania — one of Europe’s largest and most powerful nations during the Late Middle Ages and early Renaissance — Kaunas is suffused with history.—
Joe Yogerst,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Leaven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaven. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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