1
as in to succumb
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)
finally bowed to the judge's insistence that she change her outfit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to submit
to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit)
bowed to the craving for fresh coffee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to curve
to turn away from a straight line or course
the river bows gently to the north before it reaches the sea
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bend
to cause to turn away from a straight line
you'll have to gently bow the strip of wood in order to fit it in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in bend
something that curves or is curved
her full lips form a pair of perfect bows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bow
Stephen Groves, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton finalized an agreement with House Republicans Tuesday to testify in a House investigation into Jeffrey Epstein this month, bowing to the threat of a contempt of Congress vote against them.
—Stephen Groves, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026
This Valentine’s Day, whether Cupid’s bow found your match or your gal pals are your most beloved companions, there is something in the area to set your heart fluttering, or at least indulge your craving for sweets – and maybe some bubbly, too.
—Susan McDonald, The Providence Journal, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bow
Verb
Former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton finalized an agreement with House Republicans on Tuesday to testify in a House investigation into Jeffrey Epstein this month, bowing to the threat of a contempt of Congress vote against them.
—Stephen Groves, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton finalized an agreement with House Republicans Tuesday to testify in a House investigation into Jeffrey Epstein this month, bowing to the threat of a contempt of Congress vote against them.
—Stephen Groves, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
Streaming windows generally are around 90-100 days or more after a movie bows in cinemas.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026
This Valentine’s Day, whether Cupid’s bow found your match or your gal pals are your most beloved companions, there is something in the area to set your heart fluttering, or at least indulge your craving for sweets – and maybe some bubbly, too.
—Susan McDonald, The Providence Journal, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bow
Noun
-
As the rising sun seeps through twisted mangroves, JP Clark’s fly fishing rod bends suddenly.—
Max Chesnes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
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The revision comes from analyzing how radio signals sent by Juno bend and distort as the spacecraft passes behind Jupiter from Earth’s point of view.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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These two are among the fastest plant movements in all of botany, involving rapid changes in leaf curvature and cellular pressure.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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Sageman-Furnas, Bobenko, and Hoffmann decided to look for a smooth analogue of the rhino whose curvature lines were similarly restricted to living in planes or on spheres.—
Elise Cutts,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
From my perch on a sun lounger, Friendship Bay stretches out below me – the curve of the powdery sand beach, the impossible blue of the sea and the calming lapping of the waves against the shore.—
Rebekah Evans,
TheWeek,
5 Feb. 2026
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But Disney is graded on a curve, and investors have kept the stock in neutral since 2022, anxiously awaiting the Next Great Era of Disney that Bob Iger’s return to the helm promised.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Bass, in turn, warned the county’s actions could cause the city to backslide in its fight against homelessness.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
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My ideal is going into a turn with no hesitation at all, but that’s almost impossible to achieve 100% of the time, for anyone.—
Nick Remsen,
Vogue,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Swim parallel to shore, then at an angle towards the beach.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
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These red apex French tips showcase every angle of the lovely design.—
Rebecca Norris,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Wright lambasted wind and solar power, which can be added to the grid relatively quickly, saying the renewable alternatives fail to add anything meaningful to the total capacity of the electricity grid.—
Callie Patteson,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
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Dangerously cold temperatures combined with wind gusts up to 60 mph are expected to cause life-threatening conditions across parts of the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast to close out the week, forecasters said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Afternoon light sweeps across the terrace, casting long shadows along arches and curved walls.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
8 Feb. 2026
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It is centred around a striking building topped with turf, a nod to Iceland’s traditional architecture, with aqueduct-like arches and an angular timber roof inside—a little Hobbit-like, a little sci-fi rustic.—
Rick Jordan,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bow. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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