1
as in to arch
to cause to turn away from a straight line
she bent the blade of the knife when she got it jammed in the drawer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to devote
to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention
bent herself to the task for the rest of the day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
bent all of his efforts toward making his first documentary film
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in to distort
to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of
attorneys bending the facts to put their client in the most favorable light
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to attach
to cause (something) to hold to another
bend a leash to the dog's collar
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in curvature
something that curves or is curved
it's hard to see around that bend in the road, so be careful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bend
Quanta Magazine, 20 Feb. 2026
But unbeknownst to them, Maddox Hatter (Leonardo Nam) is now a ruthless villain determined to find the magical watch and use it to bend time and the fate of Wonderland to his will.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
In West Oakland, Masoud Saberi lives in an RV at a bend of road not far from the former Wood Street encampment, once Northern California’s largest homeless camp.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bend
Verb
These alternative equations are engineered to produce digital atmospheric currents that bend and curl in the ways that a truly cloudy model would.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Feb. 2026
But unbeknownst to them, Maddox Hatter (Leonardo Nam) is now a ruthless villain determined to find the magical watch and use it to bend time and the fate of Wonderland to his will.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
The Stanford transfer features excellent bend and an explosive first step.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
In West Oakland, Masoud Saberi lives in an RV at a bend of road not far from the former Wood Street encampment, once Northern California’s largest homeless camp.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bend
Verb
-
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
-
Growing about two feet tall and three feet wide, its delicate blades arch and flutter in the breeze to great effect.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
During Lent, the faithful devote themselves to prayer and other devotions, as well as charitable deeds, fasting and other forms of self-discipline.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Still, the too-long-didn’t-read of what’s unfolding in the world of air travel is that major carriers are devoting lots of time and resources to their premium tier of travelers.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Gantzel noted that late last year, the city of La Mesa rolled out temporary rubber speed humps on Date Avenue as part of a pilot program aiming to slow traffic and improve neighborhood safety.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
-
These were evidenced during England’s European Championship qualifying round game away to Bulgaria in 2019, when officials threatened an abandonment after play was twice stopped due to racist abuse aimed at Tyrone Mings and Raheem Sterling.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The two swivel chairs have curved backs that gently rock back and forth, along with plush seat and back cushions.—
Melanie Fincher,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Instead of allover stripes, expect to see razor-thin metallic stripes (like the barcode nail trend coming out of South Korea), curved bands that arc diagonally across a sheer base, or contrasting matte and gloss stripes layered in the same shade for a barely-there effect.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This concentration distorts markets, raises costs for families, threatens national security, and removes decisions from Texans’ hands.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Since his return to office in 2025, this firehose of lies has only accelerated, distorting everything from economic data to constitutional law.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Those are the players in recent memory who’ve commanded the kind of draft capital that reshapes franchises — the sort of seismic move that mortgages a future and, in return, attaches expectations normally reserved for franchise-carrying superstars.—
Kristian Winfield,
Hartford Courant,
22 Feb. 2026
-
For a different look, bend a wire coat hanger into a square shape that’s similar to a plate hanger and attach art with small clips.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Normally, shipping traffic tends to move directly from point A to point B, allowing for the curvature of the Earth and any obstacles along the way.—
David Szondy
February 15,
New Atlas,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The tool shows clear signs of rotary motion, including fine circular wear patterns known as striations, rounded edges, and a distinctive curvature at the working end.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The reason lies in the tilt of the moon's orbit.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
From their playstyle wheel below, dominance in possession and territory (Field tilt, 86 out of 99) shows that Tudor prefers his side to be the protagonists on the ball, but what is most notable is their out-of-possession approach.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bend. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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