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.

There’s also a tangible entreaty for global communities to lean on the networks and relationships they have—with their neighbors, schools, civil organizations, governments, and corporations—and address an issue everyone agrees we should be worried about.

From Slate • May 28, 2026

Buy spices in rich seasons; lean on them in lean ones.

From Salon • May 19, 2026

For now, the company has a nice cushion to lean on: Capital expenditures for Nvidia’s Big Tech hyperscaler consumers have crept into the neighborhood of $700 billion.

From MarketWatch • May 17, 2026

The fighters and fans struggled to catch a breath as trainer Don Charles urged Dubois to lean on his jab.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

She couldn’t lean on Percy any more than she had to.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

lean on

Example Sentences

Related Words