leaned on
Rested weight against
To lean on someone is to pressure or coerce them, often through threats or persistent demands: The mobsters leaned on local businesses for protection money.
It can also mean to rely on for support: She leaned on her family during the divorce.
The first sense implies intimidation; the second, emotional dependence.
- restedHaving recovered energy
- proppedHeld in position
- leant onSupported oneself against
- turned toSought assistance from
- called uponRequested or invoked
fell back on · counted on · inclined · braced · trusted · anchored · believed in · steadied · pressured · put pressure on · bore down on · confided in · shoulder to cry on · consoled · comforted · collaborated · cooperated · networked
leaned onself-reliant
Able to provide independently
went it alone · supported · propped up · carried · fended for oneself
leaned onlet alone
Phrase introducing something harder
backed off · left alone · released · laid off · let be