bend 1 of 2

Definition of bendnext
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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

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as in to curve
to turn away from a straight line or course the stream bends slightly to the east

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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bend

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noun

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
Verb
This helps so that people aren’t bending. Amy Kunst, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026 Trapped in museum archives, Ancestors bend time and space to find their way home. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 6 May 2026
Noun
Don’t miss the short climb to Woodstock Tower for a panoramic look at the river’s famous bends. Hayley Hutson, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026 The 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix (GP) is around the bend, beginning Friday, May 1 at the Miami International Autodrome at Hard Rock Stadium and concluding on Sunday, May 3. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bend
Verb
  • The moonless nights of mid-May are a fantastic time to spot the glowing band of the Milky Way arching across the spring sky, before the encroaching twilight of the summer months shortens the viewing window.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 May 2026
  • Keep your chest upright, making sure your back doesn't arch or shoulders don’t arch.
    Christa Sgobba, Health, 5 May 2026
Verb
  • Footer devotes several chapters to his prolific London theatrical work, relying mainly on the record left by reviewers.
    Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
  • Cignetti has benefited from Indiana devoting more resources and spending on football than ever before, both from an infrastructure and roster perspective, and by using the transfer portal, where the Hoosiers were able to add several standouts.
    Antonio Morales, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • The approach was aimed at prioritizing employee safety during the picking and packing of orders and was designed to reduce the distance delivery partners need to travel, enabling faster delivery times.
    Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
  • For example, if your average fiber intake is 10 grams per day, aim for 13-15 grams per day for the next couple of weeks.
    Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • In fact, according to NOAA, only about a quarter of eastern Pacific hurricanes and tropical storms ever make landfall — most curve west and stay out at sea.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 14 May 2026
  • High up on the curving walls to either side were large murals painted in the 1930s by the artist Barry Faulkner portraying Thomas Jefferson handing the Declaration to John Hancock and the ratification of the Constitution.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • Both are used to distort drone and missile guidance systems.
    The Week UK, TheWeek, 13 May 2026
  • These developments do not rise to a level where AI can be said to be distorting the economy.
    Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • Bidets that can be attached to your toilet and don’t use electricity can cost around $30, and toilet seats with fancy options such as heated water and air dryers can exceed $600.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
  • There is always pressure attached to El Clasico, but this weekend’s meeting between Barcelona and Real Madrid feels bigger than most.
    Dean Jones, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Noun
  • The aluminum scales also appear to include a mild curvature from side to side, and end to end along the perimeter.
    C.C. Weiss May 08, New Atlas, 8 May 2026
  • The usually straight path of light gets curved along the warp, with the degree of curvature dictated by how close to the object of mass the light passes.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In recent years, the state’s Republican leader has argued that the College Board’s AP courses — long a popular way for Florida high school students to get a head start on their college course load — tilt to the political left.
    Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 May 2026
  • The two screwed up a tilt-a-whirl spot, but Breakker made up for it with a standing moonsault.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bend. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

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