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

Working with Norda offered the chance to touch the category in an authentic way while leaning into the younger Canadian brand’s expertise in outdoor footwear. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026 McKinnon said Okta will continue leaning into smaller acquisitions that complement its current stack. — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026

Adjective

But even as the culture seems fairly concerned with the way famous women look, and the impact these images have on young girls and teenagers, the conversation around men and their body image has been lean. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026 Properties like the Songteller Hotel lean into the pink side of Parton’s life, with velvety magenta furniture, glittering chandeliers, roses, ruffles, and scallops. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2026

Noun

Republicans are betting that the state's deep red lean will reassert itself — buoyed by the fact that Alaskans rejected Peltola in the 2024 House race. — Maham Javaid, NPR, 27 July 2026 The 23-year-old Vancouver native leans into analog indie rock, using story songs and confessional lyrics to wrestle with relationships, future anxieties and the challenges of growing up in the public eye. — Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for lean

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lean

Verb

In horizontal-review mode, the Court has struck down laws limiting slavery and child labor, establishing income taxes and minimum wages, and restricting corporations from tilting elections or firing workers for union activity.

— Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
The screen can tilt 20 degrees up or down, swivel right and left 15 degrees, and even rotate 90 degrees into portrait mode.

— Joe Salas August 28, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of tilt

Verb

Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemums are carefully cultivated and tended through summer to produce the tight, abundant domes of little flowers gardeners prize in autumn.

— Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
King tends to diminish herself physically, curling her shoulders in a dramatic hunch.

— Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of tend

Verb

Analysts warn that if tech companies rely increasingly on debt to fund AI expansion, higher interest rates could drive up borrowing costs.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Instead of relying on conventional stereo cameras, the system processes visual differences between the left and right images to build a more accurate 3D understanding of a scene.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of rely

Adjective

The junior right-hander can be rolling to his left, then plant, turn and fire a pass, with his long, skinny arm, 60 yards downfield and right on the money.

— Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
While at the airport, the singer wore skinny jeans and a white tee, styled with bauble earrings and a black-and-white fringe jacket.

— Kelsey Stiegman, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of skinny

Noun

Riders go down a steep slope on large inner tubes before hitting a small bump to slow down and finally stopping on a turf patch.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Sabrina Blanchard and Luca Matteucci/AFP/Getty The Hindu Kush Himalayan region is warming rapidly, driving major changes in glaciers, snow cover, permafrost and mountain slopes, according to climate scientists.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of slope

Verb

The team raised the vehicle’s rear hatch and angled it toward the sun throughout the day.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Adapting to the 20,000-seat Garden, Styles’s stage is a more streamlined semi-circle that still angles for maximum access, plus a little pop.

— Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of angle

Verb

For comparison, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest foundry, began mass-producing 7nm chips in 2018 and can achieve yields exceeding 90%, depending on factors including chip design and die size.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Canny said Biird’s stage show fluctuates from the full 11 members down to seven, depending on the gig.

— Dan Kelly August 30, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of depend

Adjective

Days turn crisp, aspens begin streaking the valley with gold and summer crowds thin in Grand Teton National Park.

— Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Unlike mainstream fusion projects such as tokamaks, the Texatron does not rely on giant superconducting magnets to hold a thin gas in place for long periods.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of thin

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leaky

lean

leaned

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“Lean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lean. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lean

verb

adjective

noun

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Words We're Watching: 'Lean in'

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Popular in Grammar & Usage

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