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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of leans
Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Cult Beauty’s Sunny Escapes Edit leans heavily into practical vacation beauty rather than fantasy glamour, combining travel-ready staples with prestige makeup and SPF-adjacent utility.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto leans into the experience further.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
Maker’s Mark, set on a farm in the rolling Kentucky hills, leans into farming and architecture as much as the end product.
—Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 May 2026
The clientele leans towards American and British travelers, though the location naturally attracts an international crowd too.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
Latinos now make up roughly 40% of Texas' population, the largest ethnic group in the state, and their shifting political support from a reliably Democratic group to one that leans slightly toward Republicans has been an earthquake in Texas politics.
—Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 27 May 2026
The brooding vibe leans heavily into nightclub territory, with a nightly DJ spinning deep house to a sophisticated crowd.
—Mariette Williams, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 May 2026
The lineup leans into both legacy and local pride, with performances from Charlie Wilson, Mario, PJ Morton, Baltimore native Paula Campbell, and jazz artist Brandon Woody, among others.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 14 May 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
Case in point is the Koala Bear, which embraces the roots of the small living movement and leans into its strength as a portable home for one or two modern nomads.
—Adam Williams
may 24, New Atlas, 24 May 2026
The Glamaker Puf-sleeve Blouse leans into that shift with its mix of eyelet and lace detailing, plus a subtle puff sleeve that adds shape without feeling overdone.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2026
The company’s public framing leans so heavily on markets as an early proving ground.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Musically, Middle of Nowhere leans into traditions shaped in small-town Texas dancehalls (pedal steel, Norteño accordion and other border-blurring textures) but rarely plays it straight.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 1 May 2026
If home aesthetic leans minimalistic, this simple, soft quilt set may be your perfect bedding match.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 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
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
Verb
In the 1960s, the antiheroine — who sometimes leans hard into villain territory — was brought to life in the live-action world by Newmar on the Batman TV series opposite Adam West, who played the titular crime fighter.
—Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Cult Beauty’s Sunny Escapes Edit leans heavily into practical vacation beauty rather than fantasy glamour, combining travel-ready staples with prestige makeup and SPF-adjacent utility.
—Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto leans into the experience further.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
Maker’s Mark, set on a farm in the rolling Kentucky hills, leans into farming and architecture as much as the end product.
—Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 May 2026
The clientele leans towards American and British travelers, though the location naturally attracts an international crowd too.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
Latinos now make up roughly 40% of Texas' population, the largest ethnic group in the state, and their shifting political support from a reliably Democratic group to one that leans slightly toward Republicans has been an earthquake in Texas politics.
—Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 27 May 2026
The brooding vibe leans heavily into nightclub territory, with a nightly DJ spinning deep house to a sophisticated crowd.
—Mariette Williams, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 May 2026
The lineup leans into both legacy and local pride, with performances from Charlie Wilson, Mario, PJ Morton, Baltimore native Paula Campbell, and jazz artist Brandon Woody, among others.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 14 May 2026
Noun
Designed by London studio Interiors With Art, the aesthetic leans into understated Art Deco touches; sycamore wood panelling, Murano glass lighting, brushed gold accents, and a palette inspired by nearby Hyde Park in autumn.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
Case in point is the Koala Bear, which embraces the roots of the small living movement and leans into its strength as a portable home for one or two modern nomads.
—Adam Williams
may 24, New Atlas, 24 May 2026
The Glamaker Puf-sleeve Blouse leans into that shift with its mix of eyelet and lace detailing, plus a subtle puff sleeve that adds shape without feeling overdone.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2026
The company’s public framing leans so heavily on markets as an early proving ground.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Musically, Middle of Nowhere leans into traditions shaped in small-town Texas dancehalls (pedal steel, Norteño accordion and other border-blurring textures) but rarely plays it straight.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 1 May 2026
If home aesthetic leans minimalistic, this simple, soft quilt set may be your perfect bedding match.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leans
Verb
-
The coordination hubs within states will need to triage gaps in basic AI fluency, such as using AI for daily life, to more advanced AI proficiency that tilts more towards skill development for using AI at work or building AI systems and infrastructure.—
Shalin Jyotishi,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
The sturdy kickstand tilts through 90 degrees and it can be rotated to portrait mode and stand safely that way.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Symptoms may vary according to the specific herbicide in use, however, affected foliage tends to bend downward with leaflets cupping or curling.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
-
The longevity field, as the people involved in it acknowledge, tends to attract colorful characters with far-out theories.—
Sarah Todd,
STAT,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
For a country that relies on crude oil and natural gas exports for a significant chunk of its budget revenue, these attacks are not only producing financial strain for the Kremlin but darkening the Russian people’s psychology as well.—
Daniel DePetris,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
-
Institutionally and electorally, this version of the left relies on a grand coalition of trade unions and civil-rights groups advancing the rights of women and Black Americans—in other words, the historic constituency of the post-1970s Democratic Party.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
During certain portions of the race, competitors are forced to scramble on all fours while navigating steep inclines and narrow descents.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
-
Be prepared for a few steep inclines (and, unfortunately, background traffic noise from a nearby road).—
Robert Annis,
Midwest Living,
16 May 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
-
Of course, that also greatly depends on being fortunate in the health department.—
Jon Machota,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
The work may also support future quantum-secure communication networks, where strong encryption depends heavily on high-quality random numbers.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Born to a humble family in the twilight years of the shogunate, Higuchi Natsuko (as she was born) was the fourth child and second daughter of a man with scholarly inclinations, who as a farmer had come to the capital to seek both fortune and rank.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
-
Over the last week or so, the four satellites adjusted their inclinations—the angles of their orbits to the equator—by less than a degree.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leans. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
