Synonyms of leaning

leaning 1 of 3

adjective

as in oblique

running in a slanting direction

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• oblique
• sloping
• sloped
• tilting
• diagonal
• tilted
• slant
• slanted
• graded
• pitched
• listing
• inclined
• cant
• raked
• canted
• slantwise

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• vertical
• horizontal
• level
• up-and-down
• parallel
• perpendicular
• plumb

leaning

2 of 3

noun

ˈlē-niŋ 

1

as in direction

a prevailing or general movement or inclination

the news media are often accused of having liberal leanings

Synonyms & Similar Words

• direction
• tendency
• tide
• trend
• wind
• shift
• drift
• current
• run
• curve
• turn
• swing
• habit
• tenor
• way
• upside
• propensity
• custom
• downside
• turnabout
• countercurrent
• countertrend
• undercurrent
• undertow

2

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

• tendency
• inclination
• devices
• aptitude
• affinity
• bent
• affection
• knack
• proclivity
• impulse
• bias
• penchant
• predisposition
• predilection
• disposition
• propensity
• turn
• partiality
• preference
• bone
• talent
• addiction
• genius
• gift
• habitude
• appetite
• liking
• prejudice
• flair
• favor
• partisanship
• like
• taste
• fondness
• habit
• faculty
• endowment
• practice
• one-sidedness
• specialty
• fancy
• speciality
• pattern
• way
• custom
• forte
• singularity
• routine
• peculiarity
• idiosyncrasy
• quirk
• wont
• convention
• eccentricity
• trick
• kink
• oddity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dislike
• distaste
• aversion
• allergy
• neutrality
• disinclination
• disfavor
• objectivity
• detachment
• disliking
• indifference
• impartiality
• averseness
• disrelish
• apathy
• nonchalance
• unconcern
• disinterestedness
• insouciance

leaning

3 of 3

verb

present participle of lean

1

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

• tilting
• sloping
• angling
• inclining
• tipping
• slanting
• cocking
• pitching
• heeling
• listing
• canting
• bending
• banking
• deviating
• veering
• retreating
• descending
• reclining
• swerving
• declining

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• evening
• straightening
• flattening
• leveling

2

as in tending

to show a liking or proneness (for something)

the family's diet leans toward greasy food

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tending
• inclining
• running
• trending
• pointing
• gravitating
• going
• indicating
• suggesting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoiding
• shunning
• shying (from or away from)

3

as in relying

to place reliance or trust

you can always lean on me if you need help

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relying
• counting
• depending
• standing on
• looking to
• trusting
• calculating
• calling on
• banking on
• figuring on
• confiding
• committing
• entrusting
• reckoning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• questioning
• suspecting
• distrusting
• mistrusting

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

Recent Examples of leaning

Noun

Perhaps not surprisingly in a highly politicized environment, views on press freedom differed sharply according to political leaning. — ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

States’ classroom lessons don’t always map neatly with their political leanings. — Jennifer Peltz, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026

Verb

His emergence as the frontrunner to oust Starmer rattled bond markets earlier this year, with investors perceiving Burnham as much more left-leaning than his predecessor. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

But instead of leaning into all the details in King’s book that are provocative and discomfiting, Flanagan’s Carrie goes for the path of least resistance. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026