lean 1 of 3

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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2
as in to tend
to show a liking or proneness (for something) the family's diet leans toward greasy food

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3

lean

2 of 3

adjective

lean

3 of 3

noun

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective lean contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of lean are gaunt, lanky, lank, rawboned, scrawny, skinny, and spare. While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours.

a lean racehorse

When is gaunt a more appropriate choice than lean?

The words gaunt and lean can be used in similar contexts, but gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering.

a prisoner's gaunt face

When is it sensible to use lank instead of lean?

The words lank and lean are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lank implies tallness as well as leanness.

the lank legs of the heron

When would lanky be a good substitute for lean?

The synonyms lanky and lean are sometimes interchangeable, but lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness.

a lanky youth, all arms and legs

In what contexts can rawboned take the place of lean?

The meanings of rawboned and lean largely overlap; however, rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment.

a rawboned farmer

How do scrawny and skinny relate to one another, in the sense of lean?

Both scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality.

a scrawny chicken
skinny street urchins

When could spare be used to replace lean?

While the synonyms spare and lean are close in meaning, spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise.

the gymnast's spare figure

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 lean
Verb
So, Quenneville leaned hard on defensemen Duncan Keith, Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Oduya. Scott Powers, New York Times, 29 May 2025 So even those that are able to get into positions of power don’t lean towards the community. Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Adjective
The current Thunder feature one MVP in Gilgeous-Alexander and a roster, unique for its depth and versatility, that was built intentionally during its lean years. Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 May 2025 Eat well: Diets high in lean proteins, leafy greens, and vitamins can reduce gum disease risk. Mark Gurarie, Health, 29 May 2025
Noun
Republicans have 220 seats to Democrats' 213, and the special election would most likely install a new Democrat in the seat, given the district's Democratic lean, cutting back on the GOP majority. Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2025 That’s the only measurable that hasn’t gone away from their previous lean toward the prototype. Joe Buscaglia, The Athletic, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lean
Verb
  • Roll your shoulders, tilt your head, or twist your torso, preferably from your ergonomic chair!
    William Arruda, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Through the large storefront window stands a digital display system known as the Chandelier, which, suspended from the ceiling, can tilt, rise and descend, or serve as an illuminated display feature.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • Rainwater tends to stockpile on the edges of roads.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2025
  • Towels that are left in pile on the floor and aren't dried properly tend to develop musty odors and should be washed immediately.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2025
Verb
  • Our goal is a safe and welcoming environment for everyone relying on public transportation.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
  • The three men are all longtime Miami residents who have experienced homelessness and rely on donations to make a living, according to the complaint.
    Vivienne Serret, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • The teens proceeded to go skinny dipping, and upon emerging from the water, Abdela was freezing.
    Alex Gurley, People.com, 23 May 2025
  • Dyson has officially unveiled its skinniest vacuum yet: the new PencilVac, which measures just 38mm in diameter.
    Paul Lamkin, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Fortunately, the view from the top still hits me like a surprise every time: the hills of Mexico to the south, the coastline to the west, the miles of undeveloped slopes and valleys to the north.
    Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025
  • According to new research published Monday in the journal Nature Communications, these slopes are dry, likely due to layers of fine dust suddenly sliding off steep terrain.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • In the years since, Stovall has enjoyed great success angling.
    Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
  • With two on and no outs, Yamamoto raced off the mound to field a bunt that first baseman Freddie Freeman misread, anticipating Cleveland second baseman Will Wilson to angle the ball up the third-base line.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • A lot of the market is waiting for a resolution here because other project sales depend on it.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 6 June 2025
  • Clients depend on Snowflake for data storage and management through its cloud platform.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • 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.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 7 June 2025
  • The warm, sunny weather was helping the thin layer of oil evaporate, and the spill did not seem to harm wildlife, Laughlin said.
    Ethan Wolin, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lean. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

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