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
John Walkup, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
But longtime fans will recognize the idiosyncratic wordplay, loping syllables and ornate hooks that bend toward a major chorus, all as magnetic today as when Weaver barreled into view a decade ago.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 16 June 2025
Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 30 Apr. 2025
He’s also got a special trait — his bend — that applies to his position.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bend
Verb
Buyers apply pressure, urgency fades, and expectations bend.
—John Walkup, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
But longtime fans will recognize the idiosyncratic wordplay, loping syllables and ornate hooks that bend toward a major chorus, all as magnetic today as when Weaver barreled into view a decade ago.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 16 June 2025
Noun
The suit comes as Trump has urged Congress to defund public broadcasters and his Federal Communications Commission chair has vowed to investigate outlets like NPR and PBS over their donation models and editorial bend.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 30 Apr. 2025
He’s also got a special trait — his bend — that applies to his position.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bend
Verb
-
Warning signs a skunk is ready to spray include jumping, stamping their front feet, arching their back, clicking teeth, and hissing.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
22 June 2025
-
Throughout June, the core of Milky Way Galaxy will appear as a bright band arching across the night sky.—
Hannah Poukish,
Sacbee.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
Roberts’ 24-page majority opinion was devoted almost entirely to explaining why the Tennessee law, called SB1, should be evaluated under the lower standard of review.—
Mark Sherman,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2025
-
With little else on the election calendar in the early months of 2025, national Democrats devoted time, energy and money to the race, which received enormous publicity.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
18 June 2025
Verb
-
Unsurprisingly, the number of AI offerings aimed at the legal profession is growing.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
26 June 2025
-
Anxiety might also require more intensive cognitive-behavioral interventions aimed at changing negative thought patterns.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Time,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
The handcrafted sliders in the room are curved without a flaw — and so is the furniture positioned against the walls and the shelves above.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
14 June 2025
-
Their talons also curve more sharply than those of other raptors, and their footpads are equipped with tiny spines that act like Velcro against fish scales.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
Verb
-
Yet the message from some insiders is that the market in continental Europe is also distorted and will not necessarily prove much cheaper.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
12 June 2025
-
In environments dominated by concrete, steel and towering buildings, GPS signals can be blocked or distorted.—
Mariam Sorond,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
Verb
-
His contract is a strong candidate to appear in a trade, however, and there’s a chance Dallas needs to attach it to an asset to get below the second apron.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
-
Make sure to cut off the silk that attaches the bag to the tree.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
21 June 2025
Noun
-
When ordinary matter or light rides this curvature, its motion is impacted.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
16 June 2025
-
And what works is just Newton’s law of gravity, not the full apparatus of Einstein’s theory, where gravity is equivalent to the curvature of space-time.—
George Musser,
Quanta Magazine,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
The fans are very portable, rechargeable, feature an adjustable tilt, and offer four fan speeds.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 June 2025
-
The holistic review of the US military, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says should focus on threats facing the US, is meant to reflect the tilt in the global power dynamic, bringing potentially large-scale redeployment of weapons and troops.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bend. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share