as in curves
something that curves or is curved
the stars seemed to align themselves into one vast glittering arc
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in sweeps
to turn away from a straight line or course
the ball arced toward the batter and nearly hit him
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 arcs
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
These streams range from around 1000 light-years in extent to over a million light-years long, with the longest and largest ones making several loops or arcs around the entire Milky Way.
—Big Think, 4 Nov. 2025
Miškinis and writer Eglė Vertelytė (who adapts Rimantas Kmita’s semi-autobiographical novel) masterfully dodge genre tropes, avoiding confining their characters to simplistic labels and keeping the focus of their arcs self-motivated.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
Earth’s magnetic field radiates from our planet’s poles, arcs deep into space, and creates a vast, magnetic bubble, known as the magnetosphere, that protects us from the solar wind.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
The video gives the illusion that the plane is cutting straight through the colorful arcs.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Goldstein’s Louis entered the picture as the drunk driver who caused Jimmy’s wife’s death in a car accident, but many other characters had their own forgiveness arcs too.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
All the arcs are hitting at that specific time.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2025
Depending on the geometry, this can stretch the background galaxy in arcs, duplicate it into multiple images or form near-perfect circles called Einstein rings.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
Each simulation tracks thousands of potential lightning arcs.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
These streams range from around 1000 light-years in extent to over a million light-years long, with the longest and largest ones making several loops or arcs around the entire Milky Way.
—Big Think, 4 Nov. 2025
Miškinis and writer Eglė Vertelytė (who adapts Rimantas Kmita’s semi-autobiographical novel) masterfully dodge genre tropes, avoiding confining their characters to simplistic labels and keeping the focus of their arcs self-motivated.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
Earth’s magnetic field radiates from our planet’s poles, arcs deep into space, and creates a vast, magnetic bubble, known as the magnetosphere, that protects us from the solar wind.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
The video gives the illusion that the plane is cutting straight through the colorful arcs.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Goldstein’s Louis entered the picture as the drunk driver who caused Jimmy’s wife’s death in a car accident, but many other characters had their own forgiveness arcs too.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
All the arcs are hitting at that specific time.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2025
Depending on the geometry, this can stretch the background galaxy in arcs, duplicate it into multiple images or form near-perfect circles called Einstein rings.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
Richard Gabriel Moritz | Unsplash Many readers will know this coastline—which arcs its way from the French border in the west to Tuscany in the east, via the ancient port city of Genoa—for the five absurdly picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre.
—Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arcs
Noun
-
Despite its considerable bulk, the S680 was in its element, using its prodigious 664 ft lbs of torque to slingshot out of the curves, while rear-wheel steering, adaptive air suspension and all-wheel drive kept it on an even keel through the tightest Alpine curves.—
Howard Walker,
Robb Report,
3 Nov. 2025
-
An elegant alternative is this button-down ruched maxi satin dress, which hugs all the right places without clinging to your curves.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Its outstanding appeal, grandish curvatures and extraordinary interior design are just the norm for the upscale interior brand.—
Marc D. Grasso,
Boston Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Posture Changes Spine curvatures can make standing up straight difficult, causing lower right back pain.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Day after day, Ward and Cormican went out onto those parts of the lake, crisscrossing them to capture images from multiple angles.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
What ensues is a twisty mystery that is, per The Hollywood Reporter‘s review, poked and prodded at from all angles.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Because a disposable pan bends so easily, place it on a broiler-safe sheet pan before putting it in the oven.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Light distorts, sound bends; the signal consumes the chamber, turning technology into liturgy.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Edmund Fitzgerald was caught in a savage storm with hurricane-force winds around 100-mile-an-hour and waves up to 60 feet, crashing down on the freighter every four to eight seconds, says Bacon.—
NPR,
NPR,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Pay extra attention to winter irrigation for fall plantings, as evergreen foliage is susceptible to desiccation from winter winds.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arcs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arcs. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share