arching

verb

present participle of arch
1
as in bending
to cause to turn away from a straight line the cat arched her back whenever she was stroked

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2
as in curving
to turn away from a straight line or course the path gradually arches off into the woods

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of arching In the opposite direction, open the elbows wide, arching the back and lifting the chin to the sky. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Keeping your thighs aligned, bend one knee and bring your heel toward your buttocks without arching your back. — Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, HEALTH, 13 Aug. 2026 The combination of a moonless sky and the Milky Way arching overhead could make this the standout night for skywatching all year. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 The name comes from the footlong, fluffy white flower clusters at the ends of arching stems. — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026 Iris van Herpen incorporated plasma into her final look, Helix Nebula, through two glass tubes arching around the shoulders of the dress. — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 10 July 2026 Pay Attention to Plant Form Plants come in a wide range of shapes, from arching to columnar to spreading. — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2026 Lower back discomfort or tightness might be due to arching of your back, or your back muscles tacking on too much of the work to overcompensate for a lack of hip strength or control. — Christa Sgobba, Health, 16 June 2026 Its branches have a gentle, arching form. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arching
  1. bending
  2. curving
  3. hooking
  4. bowing
Verb
  • Earth’s atmosphere scatters away much of the blue light while bending red and orange wavelengths into the shadow.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The effort started outside the post before bending inwards towards the top-left corner, with Ballard’s outside-of-the-boot contact generating the spin required.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of bending
Verb
  • Its bright red star Antares marks the heart of the scorpion, with a curving tail extending downward toward the horizon.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Similar to other colubrids, this species possesses a Duvernoy’s gland—a venom gland located behind the eyes and connected by a tube to grooved, backward-curving teeth at the back of the upper jaw.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of curving
Verb
  • One of the more memorable instances finds Cole grabbing an open padlock off a door and using it to belt an opponent across the face before hooking the shackle into the dude’s mouth and using it to rip open his cheek.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The toys have cross-generational appeal, as well, hooking kids, teens, adults and the collector market.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of hooking
Verb
  • At Night will have a North American premiere in Toronto after bowing in Locarno.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation on Saturday, bowing to mounting pressure after tens of thousands of students and supporters took to the streets demanding his removal and sweeping reforms to India’s examination system.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
Definition of bowing

Browse Nearby Words

archfoes
arching
architect
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Cite this Entry

“Arching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arching. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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