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
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 29 Jan. 2026
But the universe does not bend towards justice on its own.
—David Ostendorf, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
Keep a slight bend in your knees to reduce strain and improve ease of movement.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bend
Verb
Between Brothers is a genre-bending mix of odd-couple road trip, historical mystery, and family therapy, among other things.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 29 Jan. 2026
But the universe does not bend towards justice on its own.
—David Ostendorf, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
The truck driver was convicted of vehicular manslaughter, but the Cobles’ wrongful-death lawsuit against Caltrans, arguing that faulty freeway design led to the backup their car was in when the big rig came around the bend, was lost in a jury trial.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
Keep a slight bend in your knees to reduce strain and improve ease of movement.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bend
Verb
-
Over the remainder of the half, the Broncos committed five turnovers and would have been down by even more at the break if not for a high-arching 3-pointer at the buzzer from Buchanan.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Hold the bridge 3 to 4 inches off the floor — just high enough to avoid arching or straining your lower back.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But if Rubio is serious about breaking China's grip on critical minerals, his summit should devote equal attention to building up the secondary market for recycled materials.—
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Firm research shows mom-and-pop investors are typically devoting only a small portion of their overall portfolios to these speculative plays, while keeping most of their money in more traditional investments.—
Yun Li,Kate Rooney,Alex Harring,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In cross-country skiing, endurance specialists aim for glory in events such as the women’s 10 km classic and men’s 15 km freestyle, both of which deliver thrilling head-to-head action that culminates in medal ceremonies at the finish line against the snowy backdrop of Valtellina.—
Sam Leveridge,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The actions of Canadian coach Joe Cecchini and Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton were intentional and deliberately aimed at reducing the points available.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The living room has a curving staircase on one side and French doors opening to a dining area on the other.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Hallie Henley Sims inherited her own grandmother’s curved back settee and chose to keep the original orange velvet upholstery intact.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Likewise, Guy Wolf, global head of market analytics at global financial services platform Marex, signaled that the price action in parts of the precious-metals complex has become increasingly distorted.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
-
For years, social networks have been plagued by bot accounts which typically mimic human engagement to do things like pump cryptocurrency prices or distort public perception through amplifying hate speech.—
Anna Tong,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Authorities said the camera was attached to a power bank and positioned facing the house, presumably to monitor the residents in preparation for a burglary or other criminal activity.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Maryland needs a professional engineering concept study, a big-picture sketch done by people who understand how power systems work, who have built things before and who are not emotionally attached to particular solutions.—
Alex Pavlak,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These two are among the fastest plant movements in all of botany, involving rapid changes in leaf curvature and cellular pressure.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Sageman-Furnas, Bobenko, and Hoffmann decided to look for a smooth analogue of the rhino whose curvature lines were similarly restricted to living in planes or on spheres.—
Elise Cutts,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Warhorses charge, lances down, crashing through the tilts as lances break on shields and men topple from their steeds.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Attendees last year noted a tilt away from Western economies and businesses.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bend. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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