LEVERAGE Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

leverage 1 of 2

noun

ˈle-və-rij

Definition of leverage

as in influence

the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly lacking much of the leverage it once had, the union is now being forced to make some concessions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

leverage

2 of 2

verb

as in to use

to take unfair advantage of a reality show contestant who's trying to leverage her 15 minutes of fame

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 leverage

Noun

Prosecutors characterized the account as a confession and said the fact that Davis was trying to gain leverage in an unrelated narcotics case didn’t diminish its significance. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026 Additionally, the agency has used federal funding as leverage in some of its state-level enforcement efforts. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026

Verb

Reading the book feels refreshing — a clarifying antidote to a culture increasingly obsessed with idolizing and leveraging suffering. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 She was brought in to leverage her longstanding personal relationship with telecommunications giant US West who wanted to launch a new interactive TV channel. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for leverage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leverage

Noun

Still, oil's influence extends far beyond the professional traders and companies that dominate its market.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
When the internet is rife with influence and inspiration, who gets credit when someone is compelled to buy something online?

— Tom Matsuda, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of influence

Verb

Operators can also continue using diesel when hydrogen supplies are unavailable.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
Razorbill brings that experience to one of the industry's most recognizable blade profiles, using extensive CNC machining to make geometry itself part of both the product's performance and its appearance.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of use

Noun

The Democratic contest to replace Moulton in the House will also test whether former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris still have some sway over Democratic voters.

— Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026
For scholars of that mindset, all reference to precedent—any precedent, either natural or artificial—is mediated by modern technologies of mechanical reproduction, and by an awareness of their ubiquitous sway.

— Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of sway

Verb

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have uncovered a new processor attack that can bypass defenses in Intel and AMD chips by exploiting a security gap lasting only a handful of instructions.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Other Surrealists, meanwhile, seemed to take from animals a license to exploit other (generally female) bodies, as in Clovis Trouille’sJustine(1937), in which both a naked female figure and a lion are bound and captive.

— Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of exploit

Verb

Last Wednesday, Meta reached a settlement with the attorneys general of forty-seven states, who had sued it for illegally manipulating the attention of children.

— Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
The finding could matter for quantum computers, where lasers are used to manipulate qubits and even tiny changes in their interactions can affect the accuracy of quantum operations.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of manipulate

Verb

The City Council instructed the city attorney to regulate phenibut, a drug that’s available at gas stations and being abused as a nervous system depressant.

— Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Communities from Lansing, Michigan, to Pflugerville, Texas, are ending their relationship with Flock, largely over concerns regarding out-of-control surveillance, unwanted data sharing, high expenses, and reports of police abusing the tool.

— Cyrus Farivar, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of abuse

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lever

leverage

leveraged

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Leverage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leverage. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of leverage

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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