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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lean
Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2025
For those who want to lean into the gourmand aspect, Viktor & Rolf Bonbon layered underneath creates this incredible caramel-vanilla combination that amplifies the dessert-like qualities.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 7 Aug. 2025
Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2025
Whey protein can help build lean muscle, but the body can only absorb so much at a time.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 11 Aug. 2025
Tiana Randall, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Crunchyroll’s ongoing lean into the fan space doesn’t stop at the showfloor.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for lean
Verb
Though if your idea of the great outdoors leans more to swirling glasses of Merlot among unending rows of grapes, a trip to Bordeaux or Tuscany might be more your speed.
—Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2025
For those who want to lean into the gourmand aspect, Viktor & Rolf Bonbon layered underneath creates this incredible caramel-vanilla combination that amplifies the dessert-like qualities.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Gary Numan strove to reinvent the limitations of what could be expressed through sound, even through lean years.
—Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2025
Whey protein can help build lean muscle, but the body can only absorb so much at a time.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
Many business owners who launch on TikTok lean heavily on the shop feature, but their reliance was shaken when the app faced a brief, nationwide ban in the U.S. for less than 24 hours — a wake-up call for creators and entrepreneurs across the country.
—Tiana Randall, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Crunchyroll’s ongoing lean into the fan space doesn’t stop at the showfloor.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for lean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lean
Verb
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Any telescope with at least 30x magnification will reveal Saturn's iconic rings, which are currently tilted about 3 degrees toward Earth.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
10 Aug. 2025
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Carlsbad police said the drone cameras are tilted toward the horizon and the sky, not the ground below, when traveling to and from an incident.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The thing is, those casts tend to be younger, unmarried, and childless; the stakes of their drunken antics are lower, less likely to land them in court or rehab and their kids, who in the case of The Valley families are too little to be consensual participants in the Bravo universe, in therapy.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
13 Aug. 2025
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If there’s a connection to how board games tend to behave there, it’s not explored.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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To make things worse, ROAS is built on tracking models that rely heavily on cookies and click paths.—
Liam Wade,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Difficulty keeping businesses afloat is a challenge across the state, not just in lower-income areas where sites rely on reimbursement from the state child care subsidy.—
Beki San Martin,
Freep.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce, running a skinny post down the left sideline, caught the ball in stride for about a 20-yard gain before skirting out of bounds.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
6 Aug. 2025
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While building the hotel Brando envisions, Judge and the local crew appear to undergo all kinds of misadventures, from skinny dipping to dangerous plane-flying to snorkeling with sharks.—
Jack Smart,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Camelback Castle: Perched on the southwestern slopes of Camelback Mountain, Copenhaver Castle is modeled after Moorish and Spanish Castles.—
Shelby Slade,
AZCentral.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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The sunny slopes of the region bring crisp whites and exceptional red wines.—
Johanna Read,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Verb
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The tracks led north and east now, angling and twisting through the timber, across ravines and small draws, avoiding parks and passes, heading generally into the wind.—
Fred C. Mercer,
Outdoor Life,
14 Aug. 2025
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Metallica’s Lars Ulrich addressed rumors that the band is circling a Las Vegas Sphere residency — as well as angling for the halftime show at next year’s Super Bowl — in an interview Wednesday with Howard Stern.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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There's a few other factors outside of that depending on finish from there.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Aug. 2025
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This raises questions about the potential impact of these changes on the accuracy and reliability of the data that businesses and policymakers depend on.—
,
CNBC,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The Ravens are thin there, with rookie third-round tackle Emery Jones Jr. still yet to make his summer debut because of a shoulder injury and potentially starting the regular season on the non-football injury list.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
17 Aug. 2025
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Details on the election process are thin, but many citizens could be casting their votes in an active conflict zone or under the eyes of armed soldiers – a terrifying prospect that some say could lead to more violence.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lean. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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