LEANING Synonyms: 171 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'leaning' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of leaning are penchant , proclivity , and propensity . While all these words mean "a strong instinct or liking for something," leaning suggests a liking or attraction not strong enough to be decisive or uncontrollable. // a student with artistic leanings

Q: When might 'penchant' be a better fit than 'leaning'?

In some situations, the words penchant and leaning are roughly equivalent. However, penchant implies a strongly marked taste in the person or an irresistible attraction in the object. // a penchant for taking risks

Q: When is 'proclivity' a more appropriate choice than 'leaning'?

The words proclivity and leaning can be used in similar contexts, but proclivity suggests a strong natural proneness usually to something objectionable or evil. // a proclivity for violence

Q: In what contexts can 'propensity' take the place of 'leaning'?

The meanings of propensity and leaning largely overlap; however, propensity implies a deeply ingrained and usually irresistible inclination. // a propensity to offer advice

leaning 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of leaning

as in oblique

running in a slanting direction the leaning tower of Pisa is a popular tourist attraction in Italy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

leaning

2 of 3

noun

ˈlē-niŋ

as in direction

a prevailing or general movement or inclination the news media are often accused of having liberal leanings

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in tendency

a habitual attraction to some activity or thing despite what his athletic leanings might suggest, he was actually a very lazy kid

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

leaning

3 of 3

verb

present participle of lean

as in tilting

to set or cause to be at an angle just lean the ladder against the tree and climb up it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in tending

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in relying

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun leaning contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of leaning are penchant, proclivity, and propensity. While all these words mean "a strong instinct or liking for something," leaning suggests a liking or attraction not strong enough to be decisive or uncontrollable.

a student with artistic leanings

When might penchant be a better fit than leaning?

In some situations, the words penchant and leaning are roughly equivalent. However, penchant implies a strongly marked taste in the person or an irresistible attraction in the object.

a penchant for taking risks

When is proclivity a more appropriate choice than leaning?

The words proclivity and leaning can be used in similar contexts, but proclivity suggests a strong natural proneness usually to something objectionable or evil.

a proclivity for violence

In what contexts can propensity take the place of leaning?

The meanings of propensity and leaning largely overlap; however, propensity implies a deeply ingrained and usually irresistible inclination.

a propensity to offer advice

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 leaning

Noun

Just look at Lily-Rose Depp and Charli XCX, who both incorporated the decade’s maximalist leanings into their wardrobes in authentic ways. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026 Perhaps not surprisingly in a highly politicized environment, views on press freedom differed sharply according to political leaning. — ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

Verb

Friday’s mission was to lift up Republican Blakeman in the Democratic-leaning state. — Sagar Meghani, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026 Functional and elegant, this teak model makes the case for leaning into a more rustic bathroom aesthetic. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for leaning

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaning

Adjective

At best, the invitation to become a white-leader draws an oblique link between white paint and the discourse of racial discrimination.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Reaves missed those games — and his shot at his first All-NBA and All-Star selections — because of right groin soreness in November, a left calf strain in December and January, and a left oblique strain in April.

— Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of oblique

Noun

No other age bracket recorded a change in median net worth larger than 6% in either direction, according to Maggiulli, writing in his blog, Of Dollars and Data.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
When the plant roots encounter an area acidified by decaying plant matter—a chemical gradient distinct from that of animal matter—ABA builds up on the side facing the rot, encouraging growth in the other direction.

— Joanna Thompson, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of direction

Noun

For Guimaraes, a veteran community builder, the impulse behind Fashion Forward was born out of a sharp realization that the industry’s greatest bottleneck was its tendency to preach to its own choir.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
The project places her among a wave of next-gen electronic artists like Ninajirachi, 2hollis and Jane Remover, all of whom are currently making left of center dance music with strong pop tendencies.

— Katie Bain, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of tendency

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
Hollywood’s center of gravity is increasingly tilting to the East Coast.

— Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of tilting

Verb

Recent research confirms that biological changes linked to Alzheimer’s can begin as early as your late 50s (with more rare early onset cases tending to start in your 40s).

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 14 Oct. 2026
Season 11 of the show documented the new mom tending to infant Kayden in Croatia as the boy’s father, Nathan Gallager, worked 18-hour days on a nearby superyacht, the Akira One.

— Tom Tapp, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of tending

Verb

Rather than relying solely on conventional T cells, future treatments may be able to exploit gamma delta T cells to expose a vulnerability in a cancer that has proved exceptionally difficult to treat.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
Rather than relying entirely on external suppliers for specialized components, the facility performs precision machining in-house, allowing teams to modify parts and manufacturing processes as designs evolve.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of relying

Adjective

Gates open to a sloping, 700-foot-long driveway that passes by whimsical sculptures before arriving at a spacious cobblestone motor court.

— Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2026
There was a casual feel in Memorial Auditorium in the hour before game time, as children kicked a ball around on the auditorium’s sloping floor.

— Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of sloping

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

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Synonyms of leaning

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noun

verb

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