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
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
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Recent Examples of leverage
U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Murphy explained the scale of the move has forced the market to rethink where the real leverage in energy resides.
—Krysta Escobar, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2026
Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Oklo is likely to gain even more steam as the nuclear energy firm leverages support from the federal government to accelerate its nuclear reactor business, according to HSBC.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leverage
Noun
This suggests that Amodei believed Anthropic had more leverage on the Pentagon than the Pentagon had on it — the CEO of a company founded just five years ago shrugging off a threat from the world’s most powerful and best-funded entity.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Murphy explained the scale of the move has forced the market to rethink where the real leverage in energy resides.
—Krysta Escobar, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote unveiled plans to build a crude oil refinery in Tanzania that would replicate the output of his giant plant in Lagos to leverage continent-wide calls for greater self-sufficiency after the Iran war exposed Africa’s vulnerabilities.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Oklo is likely to gain even more steam as the nuclear energy firm leverages support from the federal government to accelerate its nuclear reactor business, according to HSBC.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leverage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leverage
Noun
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Foreign adversaries such as the CCP use a wide range of tools to project influence inside the United States, from academic partnerships and intellectual property theft to land acquisition, supply chain leverage and political lobbying.—
Joe Gebbia Sr,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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The Seoul High Court said that a first lady, being closest to a president, represents the country together with her husband and has a big influence on him.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Jaguars used their first pick of the NFL draft to land the blocking tight end Friday night, grabbing him in the second round with the 56th selection.—
Mark Long,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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The department’s news release about the fire included a reminder for drivers to use caution when pulling over near dry grass or vegetation.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In Christian America, evangelical conservatives have held sway for decades.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
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The rise of Bernie Sanders’ preferred Senate candidate in Michigan is frustrating moderates, delighting progressives, and testing the sway of Democratic leaders in a race that will likely determine the party’s shot at a Senate majority.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Kremlin is also exploiting frictions between the United States and Europe over the latter’s reservations about the Iran war.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
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China is currently exploiting its salt lakes to source potassium and lithium.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But there is a point where the prediction shapes and manipulates the actual outcome.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
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Bronze Age symbolizes a time of change Bronze, a raw material, was skillfully manipulated to create objects that not only carried weight but also meaning.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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According to Lewkowitz, if a grower abuses the soil, the system ceases to be viable, leaving zero likelihood of success from a sustainability standpoint.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
27 Apr. 2026
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Intermediate scrutiny is why men abuse women at such high rates and get away with it.—
Wendy Murphy,
Boston Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leverage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leverage. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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