The word “leveraged” has several synonyms that can be useful in different contexts.
One synonym is “utilized”. When something is leveraged, it is often being used in a strategic way to gain an advantage. Similarly, when something is utilized, it is being put to good use. For example, “The company utilized its resources effectively.” This could also be expressed as “The company leveraged its resources effectively.”
“harnessed” is another synonym. This word implies that a force or resource is being controlled and directed for a specific purpose. Just as leveraging involves using something to gain an advantage, harnessing involves taking control of something and making it work for you. For instance, “They harnessed the power of the wind to generate electricity.” This is similar to saying “They leveraged the power of the wind to generate electricity.”
“employed” can also be a synonym for leveraged. It suggests that something is being used or brought into service. For example, “The new technology was employed to improve productivity.” This could be rephrased as “The new technology was leveraged to improve productivity.”
“exploited” is a more forceful synonym. While it can have a negative connotation in some contexts, it can also mean making the most of something. For instance, “The company exploited a market opportunity.” This has a similar meaning to “The company leveraged a market opportunity.”