as in influence
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly
lacking much of the leverage it once had, the union is now being forced to make some concessions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to use
to take unfair advantage of
a reality show contestant who's trying to leverage her 15 minutes of fame
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 leverage
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
Schumer, by opting against the filibuster that serves as the Democrats’ single greatest instrument of leverage, declined to force GOP leaders to take that step.
—Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
C.j. Doon, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2025
This hair transplant clinic provides personalized treatment plans, leveraging its advanced techniques to help patients achieve optimal results.
—Kyle J. Russell, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leverage
Noun
Democrats saw the pending shutdown as a point of leverage against President Donald Trump and Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
Schumer, by opting against the filibuster that serves as the Democrats’ single greatest instrument of leverage, declined to force GOP leaders to take that step.
—Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
Willard cast his negotiations for a contract extension at Maryland as an attempt to leverage the state’s flagship university into spending more on a program that has reached the tournament twice in his three seasons as coach.
—C.j. Doon, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2025
This hair transplant clinic provides personalized treatment plans, leveraging its advanced techniques to help patients achieve optimal results.
—Kyle J. Russell, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leverage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leverage
Noun
-
Critics of the Trump administration say its efforts to nullify the agency will cripple American influence overseas and carry devastating effects for some of the most vulnerable populations in the world, which relied on U.S. funding for health care, food, and other basic needs.—
Lucien Bruggeman,
ABC News,
18 Mar. 2025
-
The law is clear: any deal must eliminate Chinese influence and control over the app to ...—
John Moolenaar,
National Review,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
He is accused of using his long-standing association with the Rollin’ 60s, where he is allegedly regarded as a leader, and other street gangs to intimidate businesses and individuals in Los Angeles.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Through a careful expedition using cutting-edge technology, gold has been drawn from the site for the first time in years and will be available via public auction through the sale of the coins.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Social Security Reform At A Crossroads The coming weeks will test just how far the SSA can go under Musk’s sway to reform Social Security in the name of efficiency.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
-
The rural characters, beneath the sway of the hovering Empire, represent human rivalry.—
Armond White,
National Review,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
If that weren’t enough, bad-faith actors exploit these dynamics, distorting reality for part of the population and deepening political divides.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Infectious diseases, by nature, exploit individualism; their version of liberty is to find the unprotected, and spread more freely.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Some billions of years later, some of that multicellular life figured out how to be reasonably smart and start using tools to manipulate and control its environment.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Cybercriminals can trick authentication systems, approve fraudulent transactions or even manipulate corporate communications.—
Khurram Akhtar,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Authorities subsequently found that the boy and Ruby's 10-year-old daughter had been seriously abused.—
Liam Quinn,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Kevin Franke, the father of the children abused by Hildebrandt and his ex-wife, has advocated for more oversight of life coaches since the two women were sent to prison.—
Jessica Schreifels,
ProPublica,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Leverage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leverage. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share