Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

lean on

VERB
bank on
Synonyms
STRONGEST
believe in bet on build on count on look to rely on
WEAK
assume be sure about gamble on reckon on stake trust venture wager
VERB
browbeat
Synonyms
STRONGEST
badger bully coerce harass hector intimidate oppress
STRONG
bludgeon bluster bulldoze cow domineer dragoon frighten overawe overbear threaten tyrannize
WEAK
despotize lord it over put heat on put the chill on put through the wringer
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist help leave alone
WEAK
boost coax compliment praise
VERB
bully
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bludgeon browbeat coerce harass hector oppress persecute terrorize threaten torment torture
STRONG
bluster buffalo bulldoze cow domineer dragoon enforce menace overbear showboat swagger tyrannize
WEAK
despotize ride roughshod turn on the heat walk heavy
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid alleviate help make happy please relieve
WEAK
leave alone
VERB
castigate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
berate censure chastise criticize excoriate flog lambaste lash penalize pummel punish rebuke reprimand scold upbraid
STRONG
baste beat blister cane chasten correct discipline drub flay rail rate ream scarify scorch scourge thrash whip
WEAK
bawl out chew out come down on drag over the coals dress down jump down one's throat lay out read the riot act scathe tongue-lash
Antonyms
STRONGEST
approve compliment exonerate flatter forgive laud praise reward
STRONG
aid assist guard help lose protect surrender
VERB
chastise
Synonyms
STRONGEST
berate castigate censure flog lash punish upbraid
STRONG
baste beat chasten correct pummel ream scourge spank thrash whip
WEAK
chew out climb all over ferule lay into skelp slap down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
compliment laud praise
STRONG
aid assist guard help lose protect surrender
WEAK
cheer comfort encourage forgive inspirit promote
VERB
coerce
Synonyms
STRONGEST
browbeat bully intimidate repress strong-arm suppress terrorize
STRONG
beset bulldoze concuss constrain cow dragoon drive force hinder impel make menace oblige pressurize push restrict threaten urge
WEAK
high-pressure make an offer they can't refuse put the squeeze on shotgun twist one's arm
Antonyms
STRONGEST
allow encourage help let go
STRONG
aid assist discourage dissuade free halt release repress stop suppress
WEAK
leave alone
VERB
count on
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bank on believe believe in bet on depend on trust
WEAK
aim for bargain for count upon expect from heed plan on reckon on rest on score stake on swear by tab
Antonyms
STRONGEST
disbelieve distrust
WEAK
doubt mistrust not expect
VERB
count on/count upon
Synonyms
WEAK
aim for bank on bargain for believe believe in bet bottom dollar bet on expect from heed pin faith on place confidence in plan on reckon on rest on score stake on swear by tab take as gospel truth take for granted take on trust trust
Antonyms
WEAK
disbelieve distrust not expect
VERB
cow
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bludgeon bully daunt dishearten embarrass faze frighten rattle strong-arm subdue terrorize unnerve
STRONG
abash awe bluster buffalo bulldoze discomfit disconcert dismay dragoon enforce hector overawe scare showboat
WEAK
push around turn on the heat walk heavy
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm comfort embolden encourage gladden hearten help incite inspirit please
STRONG
soothe
VERB
depend
Synonyms
WEAK
bank on bet bottom dollar on bet on build upon calculate on confide in gamble on lay money on reckon on trust in turn to
VERB
dissuade
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deter discourage divert faze prevent thwart warn
STRONG
counsel deprecate derail disincline exhort expostulate hinder prick remonstrate
WEAK
advise against caution against chicken out cry out against disadvise persuade not to put off throw a wet blanket on throw cold water on throw off turn off urge not to
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist encourage help
WEAK
incite persuade talk into
VERB
drive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
chase encourage force herd inspire make motivate prompt propel push rush send spur stimulate
STRONG
actuate animate arouse bulldoze coerce compel constrain dog goad goose harass hasten hound hurl hurry hustle impel induce instigate kick nag oblige overburden overwork pound press pressure prod provoke railroad rouse shepherd shove steamroll worry
WEAK
act upon egg on put up to ride herd on spirit up work on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
depress discourage dissuade halt prevent stop
STRONG
calm dally delay hinder impede leave alone let go please procrastinate pull rest slow wait
WEAK
check curb repress retard
VERB
enforce
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accomplish administer apply carry out implement impose invoke prosecute reinforce require sanction
STRONG
administrate coerce commandeer compel constrain demand dictate discharge dragoon drive effect emphasize exact execute exert expect extort fortify fulfill goad hound impel incite lash make necessitate oblige perform press spur strain stress strong-arm support urge whip wrest
WEAK
crack down egg on force upon insist on put into effect put screws to
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cease halt not finish refuse stop
STRONG
check delay deter disapprove discourage dissuade fail forget give ignore leave alone let go lose miss neglect prevent release repress
WEAK
abandon disregard drop forego give up overlook
VERB
exact
Synonyms
STRONGEST
compel extort extract impose wrest
STRONG
assess bleed call challenge claim coerce command constrain force gouge levy oblige pinch postulate require requisition solicit squeeze wrench wring
WEAK
insist upon put on shake down
Antonyms
STRONG
answer disapprove free give let go receive release
VERB
hurt
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annoy constrain injure punish sadden sting upset wound
STRONG
abuse afflict aggrieve burn chafe discomfit discommode displease distress excruciate faze grieve lambaste martyr martyrize prejudice torment torture try vex vitiate zing
WEAK
cut to the quick give no quarter go for jugular hit where one lives lay a bad trip on put down put out thumb nose at work over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid cure delight heal help let go make happy please
STRONG
approve assist calm comfort praise protect respect satisfy soothe
WEAK
assuage placate relieve remedy
VERB
intimidate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alarm awe bully coerce constrain daunt dishearten dismay scare subdue terrify terrorize
STRONG
badger bait bludgeon bluster browbeat buffalo bulldoze chill compel cow dispirit disquiet dragoon enforce force hound oblige overawe ride ruffle spook strong-arm
WEAK
bowl over push around showboat twist someone's arm
Antonyms
STRONGEST
assure calm comfort embolden encourage hearten help incite inspirit leave alone please reassure release soothe
WEAK
assist
VERB
maul
Synonyms
STRONGEST
beat up bludgeon drub lacerate molest mug pummel rough up thrash trample
STRONG
bang bash batter beat buffet claw clean flagellate flail hit hurt ill-treat lash maltreat muscle paste paw pelt pound skin wax whip
WEAK
break face handle roughly knock about knock around let have it put in the hospital take care of work over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
protect
STRONG
aid assist help lose surrender
WEAK
guard maintain take care
VERB
menace
Synonyms
STRONGEST
endanger imperil intimidate jeopardize terrorize threaten
STRONG
alarm browbeat bully chill compromise hazard impend loom lower overhang peril portend risk scare spook torment
WEAK
bad-eye push around put heat on scare hell out of whip around
Antonyms
STRONGEST
assist guard help protect save
STRONG
calm compliment praise reassure soothe
WEAK
aid
VERB
press
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assail demand force petition push squeeze sue urge worry
STRONG
afflict beg beset besiege buttonhole compel constrain depress disquiet enjoin entreat exhort harass implore importune oppress plague plead pressurize railroad sadden sell supplicate torment vex
WEAK
come at insist on weigh down work on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
give
STRONG
aid assist cheer comfort help please soothe
VERB
pressure
Synonyms
STRONGEST
compel constrain insist press push
STRONG
drive impel politick rush sell squeeze
WEAK
come at push around twist arm work over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
pull
STRONG
dissuade repress retard slow
WEAK
leave alone
VERB
push
Synonyms
STRONGEST
encourage press pressure speed spur
STRONG
browbeat bulldoze coerce constrain dragoon expedite goad goose hurry impel influence inspire jolly kid motivate oblige persuade prod railroad squeeze steamroll strong-arm
WEAK
bear down egg on exert influence fire up go to town on key up overpress pour it on push around put the screws to put up to sell on speed up turn on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
discourage dissuade leave alone
STRONG
delay hinder repress slow stop suppress
WEAK
conceal hide pull
VERB
raid
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assault blockade bomb bombard harass invade loot overrun plunder ransack rob storm strafe swoop
STRONG
assail breach charge despoil devastate forage foray harry heat inroad maraud pirate rake rifle sack sally shell slough strike sweep torpedo waste
WEAK
break in descend on fall upon fire on knock off knock over lean against march on sally forth spoliate tip over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
give receive surrender
STRONG
build construct help improve save
WEAK
aid assist guard protect
VERB
rebuke
Synonyms
STRONGEST
admonish berate castigate censure chide go after oppose reprimand reproach scold upbraid
STRONG
blame fry give a talking-to jawbone lecture lesson monish pay rake read reprehend reprove rip zap
WEAK
bawl out call on the carpet carp on chew out climb all over dress down jump down one's throat jump on lay into sit on sound off take to task tear apart tell off tick off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
approve compliment flatter laud praise
VERB
rely on
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bank on believe in count on depend on trust turn to
WEAK
bet bottom dollar on bet on build upon calculate on confide in gamble on lay money on reckon on trust in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
disbelieve distrust mistrust
VERB
squeeze
Synonyms
STRONGEST
extract pinch wring
STRONG
bleed extort milk oppress pressure pressurize wrench
WEAK
bring pressure to bear eke out put screws to shake down
Antonyms
WEAK
donate expand give
VERB
trust
Synonyms
STRONGEST
count on depend on look to
STRONG
accredit assume expect hope imagine presume suppose surmise take
WEAK
bank on be convinced bet bottom dollar on bet on build on calculate on confide in gamble on have faith in lay money on place confidence in place trust in reckon on rely upon swear by take at face value think likely
Antonyms
STRONG
abstain disbelieve know reject
WEAK
distrust hold keep mistrust

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That helps explain why Chinese malls and shopping districts increasingly lean on pop-ups, exhibitions, and themed retail to turn online enthusiasm into offline foot traffic.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

Bulls should therefore lean on today’s pullback as an opportunity.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Many good coffee cake recipes lean on sour cream, which lends a pleasing density and richness to the batter.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Many find openings in hands-on fields such as healthcare, and they lean on short-term credential programs as steppingstones to new careers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

She wished there was somebody she could lean against; then she wished she was different, the sort of person who did not need to lean on others, like Kainene.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie