unbowed

adjective

un·​bowed ˌən-ˈbau̇d 

1

: not bowed down

2

: not subdued

bloodied but unbowed

Examples of unbowed in a Sentence

He was unbowed by failure.

Recent Examples on the Web

Weekend Predictions is bloody, but unbowed, because the Falcons are inspiring me for a change. — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Kushner remained silent about the demonstrations, but Rama was unbowed. — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

As global eyes turn once more toward Ukraine’s cultural output—not with pity, but with admiration for its unbowed creativity—this label stands as a luminous thread in the tapestry. — Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 15 June 2026

Ross watching on for the briefest second before sprinting onto a stage to perform a medley of her greatest hits, radiant, exultant, unbowed, a walking symbol of scratch-resistant American optimism. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 9 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unbowed

• afterload
• episode
• internode
• microcode
• multimode
• nematode
• nesselrode
• overflowed
• overload
• overrode
• radioed
• torpedoed

Kids Definition

unbowed

adjective

un·​bowed ˌən-ˈbau̇d 

ˈən-

1

: not bowed down

unbowed heads

2

: not conquered

unbowed by failure