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
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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
Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
While China has a more advanced humanoid and service bot ecosystem, European startups are leaning into drones, while American firms dominate in premium medical bots and robotics software.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Rachael Zimlich, Verywell Health, 7 Jan. 2026
That was the case with the tall and lean Ebrahim Azizi, who appears as Eghbal, the man the group believes was their ruthless captor.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Melonee Hurt, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Dec. 2025
With two more progressives already on the 11-member council — Alison Coombs, whose term isn’t up until 2027, and Ruben Medina, who was reelected to his Ward III seat last month — the body now firmly leans left.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lean
Verb
Street performers tune up, artists set out their work, and strangers lean shoulder to shoulder as the sun sinks into the Gulf for another Sunset Celebration.
—Adjective
How to Decide Between Them Although there are slight nutritional differences between turkey and chicken breast, both are good choices of lean protein.
—Noun
Their catalog is rock, but leans toward folk, blues and pop.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for lean
Verb
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Most notably, the Sabres held on when the ice was tilted in their direction clinging to a one-goal lead in the third period.—
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The robot uses a stable, wheeled base inspired by robot vacuums, paired with a tilting torso and two articulated arms.—
Verb
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Rainwater tends to stockpile on the edges of roads.—
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In fact, a 2023 study found that child prodigies tend to earn more and have more career success than the average person.—
Verb
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Readers should not rely solely on the content of this article and are encouraged to seek professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances.—
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To help fill the gap, the research team relied on data from 27,670 adults in Sweden recruited to provide dietary data between 1991 and 1996.—
Adjective
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Bongiovi wore a red, velvet suit with a skinny black tie to the premiere and the after-party.—
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Style them with a pleated skirt and sweater for a preppy edge, pull them over skinny jeans for a streamlined look, or pair them with a sweater dress for date night.—
Noun
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Strongest winds will occur on the eastern slopes of the San Bernardino mountains.—
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This destabilizes the landscape, weakening steep slopes and damaging critical infrastructure.—
Verb
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In a conventional turbine, blades are angled to deflect fluid flow and convert kinetic energy into mechanical work.—
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This usually involves new walls, ceilings, floors, angled sound attenuation, and even sound dampeners.—
Verb
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The length of cold required to break dormancy in any particular tree species depends on both the length of typical winter and the variability of winter temperature patterns where a species evolved.—
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Here’s how to claim your lottery prize For Indiana Lottery prizes, the claim process varies depending on the prize amount.—
Adjective
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The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.—
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Yimobra Memory Foam Bath Mat, $9 with Prime The bath mat is made from memory foam that feels plush underfoot and cushions each step, unlike thin cotton mats.—
Cite this Entry
“Lean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lean. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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