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
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 bend
Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 6 Mar. 2026
The abdominal muscles in bipeds are used to stabilize the body for upright mobility — sitting up, bending, etc.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
The facilities sit on a bend in the Blackstone River surrounded by residential neighborhoods.
—Alex Kuffner, The Providence Journal, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bend
Verb
In an improbable feat of dexterity, the American fingerstyle guitarist interprets the work of the UK electronic savants, finding graceful new forms in their brain-bending tangles.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 6 Mar. 2026
The abdominal muscles in bipeds are used to stabilize the body for upright mobility — sitting up, bending, etc.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
Navigating the subtle bends of the lake behind Englebright Dam, the vessel chugged across the otherwise still water, the late afternoon sun shimmering across the ripples in its wake.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
The facilities sit on a bend in the Blackstone River surrounded by residential neighborhoods.
—Alex Kuffner, The Providence Journal, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bend
Verb
-
Speckled with dark purple spots, the white to lavender flowers open along arching stems in late summer through fall.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Nike also made sure these sneakers had a wide forefoot, toe box, and arch, so your feet willnever feel cramped.—
Anna Popp,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Reports over the years have suggested that lawmakers can devote hours each day to fundraising calls, often dialing donors from offices just steps away from the Capitol itself.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
-
This year, Nikhil requested a spelling tutor and devoted hours each day to studying word etymologies, languages of origin and specific word sets.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The probes, which will be conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, aim to identify unfair trade practices, particularly structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
-
For every stay booked, Nômade donates $1 to Tulum Sostenible, an organization that aims to help protect the ecosystem, clean trash from the streets and ocean, and promote waste reduction.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
To achieve the look, use a flatiron to gently curve the ends under before tucking behind your ears.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
12 Mar. 2026
-
In fact, topography made this impossible, and Costa had to curve one of the axes, resulting in the airplane shape that made his project famous.—
Sophia La Banca,
JSTOR Daily,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The lens shift, in the vertical direction only, offers similar flexibility for adjusting the projector's height relative to the screen without tilting the projector and distorting the image.—
M. David Stone,
PC Magazine,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Even if direct fighting eased soon, damaged facilities, disrupted logistics and shipping risk could keep fuel markets distorted for weeks or months.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The super soft fleece material and cushioning provide ultimate comfort, and it can be attached to your luggage.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Vines growing against wood siding can contribute to rot, so plant vines along a fence, mailbox, trellis, or wire that isn't attached to your house.—
Zoe Gowen,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That curvature data is encoded as an explicit geometric prior and integrated into the model’s attention mechanism.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Its curvature is translated into an oversized shield silhouette with a forward cut-out construction that feels both technical and architectural.—
Taylor Stoddard,
Robb Report,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In 2024, Kansas City went 11-0 in tilts decided by eight points or fewer.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Included in the base price for the Studio Display XDR is your choice of either a stand with height and tilt adjustment, or VESA-mounting hardware for wall- or arm-mounting the monitor.—
Tony Hoffman,
PC Magazine,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bend. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
