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
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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
Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
Midnight Orchard leans spicy and sweet with peach, apricot, sandalwood, and musk.
—Robyn Merrett, StyleCaster, 1 Apr. 2025
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
This method involves filling half your plate with non-starchy vegetables, a quarter with lean proteins (e.g., chicken or fish), and a quarter with carbs (e.g., beans and whole grains).20
Getting regular exercise: Staying active can keep your blood sugar low.
—Julia Ries, Health, 9 Apr. 2025
Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
Veering from the earnest sentimentality of its action-thriller predecessor, O’Connor’s leans into a more comedic register.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lean
Verb
Ela features casual dishes like Duck Leg Biryani, Tandoori Cab Hanger Steak Skewer, chutneys and other street snacks, while Mango leans into daily soups, salads and handhelds from Wagyu beef carpaccio to roasted turkey club.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
Midnight Orchard leans spicy and sweet with peach, apricot, sandalwood, and musk.
—Robyn Merrett, StyleCaster, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
So the 26-year-old right-hander’s spring was spent not only trying to earn a spot in the Padres rotation but shedding some pounds and getting leaner while also working to maintain his strength and refine his pitches to be ready for the season.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
This method involves filling half your plate with non-starchy vegetables, a quarter with lean proteins (e.g., chicken or fish), and a quarter with carbs (e.g., beans and whole grains).20
Getting regular exercise: Staying active can keep your blood sugar low.
—Julia Ries, Health, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
The on-field product ended up looking like a mixture of those two messages, with a lean toward the latter.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
Veering from the earnest sentimentality of its action-thriller predecessor, O’Connor’s leans into a more comedic register.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lean
Verb
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Instead, Laurie tilts even further into vulnerability.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
7 Apr. 2025
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Alas, Android got there first; AI is now tilted towards Google's approach.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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People with autism, for example, tend to have special interests that result in in-depth knowledge or passion about a topic, says Khan, who recalls a patient fascinated by vacuums.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
14 Apr. 2025
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While, yes, many period adaptations tend to be quite white, the popularity of Bridgerton proves that there’s plenty of room for actors of all races and ethnicities to get in on the corset-and-breeches-wearing fun.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In the meantime, the Kings will look to rely on Keon Ellis, Devin Carter, and Markelle Fultz in the backcourt.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
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Yet the case stands to influence legal challenges to the Liberation Day tariffs, too, because the President relied on the same mechanism for both the earlier and more recent tariff announcements, declaring a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, of 1977.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The TikTok comments were replete with speculation that the friends may have even been skinny dipping—though Horton declined to confirm this.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
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As an elder millennial, that meant skinny jeans — the hallmark of my generation.—
Kayla Kitts,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In a video shared on the official Audi FIS World Cup Instagram, Vonn is seen pumping her fists in the air and cheering along with the crowd in celebration after completing her race at the bottom of the slopes in Sun Valley.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
24 Mar. 2025
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Even better: add a few days to your itinerary for visiting a wine region, like Lavaux, which has spectacular terraced slopes overlooking Lake Geneva.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Brit, still processing, clocks that Kenya was angling for a full-on meltdown, trying to provoke her into playing the aggressor.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
14 Apr. 2025
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Floating vanity mirrors are angled to reflect the hillside beyond.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Last but not least is Cassy—or Cassie, depending on the day—and her kittens.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Apr. 2025
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This pick is just 12.5 inches in height, but Coach also offers other sizes depending on your needs.—
Isis Briones,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Apr. 2025
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.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
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Between a mixture of players moving on, injuries and lack of experience, the wide receiver room is looking thin heading into 2025.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lean. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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