Lean
Rely
Rely verb - To place reliance or trust.
Usage example: rigorously tested the rope before starting out, for the rock climbers would be relying on it with their very lives
Lean is a synonym for rely in lay topic. You can use "Lean" instead a verb "Rely", if it concerns topics such as have confidence in, be dependent.
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
-
In chapter 19 she asked him if he could be the one she could lean on and rely on.
Source: Living Emotional Crutch -
Carcetti almost always has to choose between the two; though he would rather lean on Norman's side in a morally conscious stance, the struggles of the Mayoral office make Carcetti have to rely on Steintorf's more morally gray position.
Source: Series / The Wire -
Although, Aunt Wu herself seemed to lean towards the Screw Destiny theme, and as for don't rely heavily on another person, the entire village was involved in stopping the lava, even if Aang did save the day.
Source: Spoof Aesop
Cite this Source
Rely and Lean. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/lean/rely
Lean & Rely. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/lean/rely>.
Rely or Lean. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/lean/rely.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "lean" and "rely" have occurred on timeline