1
as in bending
to cause to turn away from a straight line
the cat arched her back whenever she was stroked
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in curving
to turn away from a straight line or course
the path gradually arches off into the woods
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arching
With gracefully arching foliage, this evergreen fern is a staple of Southern porches.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
The plant is a clump-forming fern with arching stems.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 10 Apr. 2026
The permanent exhibit includes a full-scale replica of the Nihonbashi Bridge, an arching wooden structure that once joined the five roads to Edo at the gate to the capital.
—Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
Hawaii's Kīlauea volcano was putting on a spectacular show Tuesday evening, with its latest eruptive episode producing arching bands of red lava higher than some skyscrapers.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
Its arching branches of flat, fleshy leaves are now drooping, leaving the plant looking less like a festive centerpiece and more like a soggy green mop.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Feb. 2026
Under blistering examination from plaintiff’s attorney Mark Lanier, who called him as an adverse witness, the Meta chief looked visibly irritated at times, arching his eyebrows and shifting in his chair as he was confronted with a string of internal emails and slide decks.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2026
Over the remainder of the half, the Broncos committed five turnovers and would have been down by even more at the break if not for a high-arching 3-pointer at the buzzer from Buchanan.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
Hold the bridge 3 to 4 inches off the floor — just high enough to avoid arching or straining your lower back.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
The plant is a clump-forming fern with arching stems.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 10 Apr. 2026
The permanent exhibit includes a full-scale replica of the Nihonbashi Bridge, an arching wooden structure that once joined the five roads to Edo at the gate to the capital.
—Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
Hawaii's Kīlauea volcano was putting on a spectacular show Tuesday evening, with its latest eruptive episode producing arching bands of red lava higher than some skyscrapers.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
Its arching branches of flat, fleshy leaves are now drooping, leaving the plant looking less like a festive centerpiece and more like a soggy green mop.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Feb. 2026
Under blistering examination from plaintiff’s attorney Mark Lanier, who called him as an adverse witness, the Meta chief looked visibly irritated at times, arching his eyebrows and shifting in his chair as he was confronted with a string of internal emails and slide decks.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2026
Over the remainder of the half, the Broncos committed five turnovers and would have been down by even more at the break if not for a high-arching 3-pointer at the buzzer from Buchanan.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
Hold the bridge 3 to 4 inches off the floor — just high enough to avoid arching or straining your lower back.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arching
Verb
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Other footage from outside the restaurant shows the man bending the standup heaters and throwing more chairs.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
29 Apr. 2026
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The royal made a beeline to the young boys, immediately bending down to their eye level and shaking their hands.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Gently curving architecture leads you from the showroom entrance into the cozy, circular display room.—
Nathanael Gassett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Apr. 2026
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Architects Enrique Muller and Santiago Aspe designed a striking adobe-style cascade that drops nine levels down the rock in warm honey tones, curving with the cliff as if it were poured in place.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Mason McTavish’s hooking minor proved costly as the Oilers scored just four seconds into the penalty.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
27 Apr. 2026
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By hooking a solo shot around the Pesky Pole, the lefty swinger finally hit his first dinger of the year off Boston southpaw Payton Tolle.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On Friday, the zoo resumed business, with officials bowing to visitors and apologizing for the trouble caused.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
The film was the top film over this past weekend after bowing on the platform Friday.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arching. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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