LEAN Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

lean 1 of 3

verb

ˈlēn

Definition of lean

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

as in to tend

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

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as in to rely

to place reliance or trust you can always lean on me if you need help

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lean

2 of 3

adjective

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

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

Instead, VisionQuest leans toward the magical fantasy of its other key starting point, 2021’s WandaVision. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026 Giunta’s postcard leans into her partner’s design background. — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Electronics are aplenty too, with cruise control, lean-sensitive ABS, and traction control. — New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026 Focus on eating nutritious whole foods with plenty of protein, healthy fats and trace minerals — think lean red meat, wild salmon and leafy greens. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 9 Oct. 2026

Noun

The sideways lean becomes a forward one, the gap between his legs increases, and his feet begin landing beneath or slightly behind his centre of mass as his stride lengthens. — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 If the lean is recent, start by thoroughly watering the soil around the root ball to soften it, then gently pull the tree back to a vertical position using a wide, soft strap around the lower trunk, taking care not to damage the bark. — Bianca Lambert, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lean

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lean

Verb

Technological dominance has been tilting toward Moscow of late, exposing Ukraine’s vulnerability to Russia’s relentlessly modernizing war machine.

— Gerard Toal, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
But even those examples fall far short of the sort of figures that would tilt the scales in any outcomes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of tilt

Verb

Higher diesel prices – essential to transporting goods and agricultural production – tend to drive up costs across the wider economy and fuel inflation.

— Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
That his arguments and those made by the current administration against immigrants tend in a totalitarian direction cannot be denied.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of tend

Adjective

Related Stories Arriving to Southwark Crown Court, Brand wore a grey suit, white shirt and grey skinny tie.

— Ellise Shafer, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
On a Wednesday afternoon at Ralphs on Pico Boulevard, a skinny, six-foot-tall tower of sensors rolled through the aisles.

— Ella Chakarian, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of skinny

Noun

From shredding the slopes in the winter to floating on the water in the summer, the unofficial capital of the Sierra Nevada sees outdoorsy travelers constantly flocking to its campsites and cabins.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
The land on which Thwaites sits slopes downward, meaning as the glacier melts, more ice is exposed to warm ocean water.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of slope

Verb

The free-agent signing who is angling for a starting position has played a team-high 97 minutes in four preseason games.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
As seen in a video shared on social media, when Prince William held out a phone to take a selfie, the well-wisher reached out to angle his arm up so the photo could be taken from a higher angle.

— Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of angle

Verb

Restaurants, grocery stores and shops depend on deliveries, yet too many commercial corridors lack adequate loading zones.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Social workers, nurses, therapists, and home health aides provide care that depends not simply on technical skill, but on empathy, dignity, and compassion.

— Scott Levenson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of depend

Adjective

Bajaria may also have hit thin ice with Sarandos after the streamer won just 16 Primetime Emmy Awards this year — its worst showing since 2016 and down from 30 in 2025.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
It was designed with a column, sheath silhouette, with sequins, thin spaghetti straps and a midlength skirt.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of thin

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leaky

lean

leaned

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Style

“Lean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lean. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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