as in twisting
marked by a long series of irregular curves
the river takes a long bending path to the sea
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in arching
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in devoting
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 aiming
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
bent all of his efforts toward making his first documentary film
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in curving
to turn away from a straight line or course
the stream bends slightly to the east
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in distorting
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
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6
as in attaching
to cause (something) to hold to another
bend a leash to the dog's collar
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bending
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
After an incredible post-pandemic run, the once seemingly unbreakable American economy is bending.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Still, the first looks at the Air, shared by leaker Majin Bu, evoke a fear of bending.
—PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025
The result is an outlier when, otherwise, courts seem to be bending to Trump’s will.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Rodriguez got a huge reaction for bending Valkyria in half over the post.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Also starring Selena Gomez, the genre-bending film earned two Academy Awards and four Golden Globes.
—Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Pulte’s criminal referral against Cook presented Trump with another avenue for bending the traditionally independent Fed to his will, securing a majority of the Fed’s board by firing Cook, a move that Cook has sued to block.
—Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 6 Sep. 2025
Reeves has repeatedly dismissed the possibility of bending her own fiscal rules on borrowing.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
The approach is complemented by heavy use of the Estevez brothers’ childhood Super 8 movies, genre-bending DIY productions that Charlie notes often bore similarities to the movies their father was making at the time.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
After an incredible post-pandemic run, the once seemingly unbreakable American economy is bending.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Still, the first looks at the Air, shared by leaker Majin Bu, evoke a fear of bending.
—PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025
The result is an outlier when, otherwise, courts seem to be bending to Trump’s will.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Rodriguez got a huge reaction for bending Valkyria in half over the post.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Also starring Selena Gomez, the genre-bending film earned two Academy Awards and four Golden Globes.
—Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Pulte’s criminal referral against Cook presented Trump with another avenue for bending the traditionally independent Fed to his will, securing a majority of the Fed’s board by firing Cook, a move that Cook has sued to block.
—Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 6 Sep. 2025
Reeves has repeatedly dismissed the possibility of bending her own fiscal rules on borrowing.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bending
Verb
-
In photos of the pair smooching at midnight, fans quickly recognized the iconic architecture, namely the gold, arching ceilings.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
26 Aug. 2025
-
The effect can be like stepping into a bubble of serenity through a portal of elegant silhouettes, gracefully arching doors, textured walls, or ethereal installations.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Architectural Digest,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In a world of student loans and ever-increasing housing costs, the notion of devoting all of your time to obsessing over the meaning of nineteenth-century poetry does indeed feel like more of a fantasy than witchcraft or demons.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Aug. 2025
-
At some point the plan shifted from devoting one season to each of the five years, to having the first season cover one year and the second cover four.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Maine Lottery offers several games for those aiming to win big.—
Jay Cannon,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
All the segments understand the assignment, aiming primarily to elicit hoots and hollers.—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Along the Corniche—a sweeping waterfront promenade curving around the bay—traditional dhows drift past a shimmering skyline of minarets and sculptural skyscrapers.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Here, miles away from the nearest public road, a small canyon carves into curving limestone.—
Eva Frederick,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Its chief executive, Ian Choudri, has accused the FRA of distorting data.—
Ben Jones,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
-
This causes the orbits to contract, shifting the orbits of the other electrons, distorting their chemical properties.—
David Szondy
August 27,
New Atlas,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The local media loved this and similar stunts the group pulled, such as attaching wings to bicycles, attempting to fly over the river, and towing bicycles on rafts behind canoes.—
Carlton Reid,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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The film begins with a notation that Short illegally recorded one performance of the show by attaching two microphones to a chain link fence that served as Godspell’s spare backdrop.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Room for two, a supple ride, a gorgeous view over a curved hood, perfect flow of air up and over the windshield and cockpit with virtually no backsplash to disrupt pleasant conversation, and the ability at any time to experience a rush of power and speed when the moment calls.—
Mark Ewing,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Samsung’s Odyssey Ark gaming monitor is down $900, and its massive curved screen with Cockpit Mode makes racing and flight sims ridiculously immersive.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The paper also highlights the potential of digital twins — virtual patient replicas that allow doctors to simulate treatments before applying them in real life.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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By applying Stoic principles, individuals can filter out the noise, focus on the controllable, and approach financial decisions with clarity rather than fear.—
Andrew Rosen,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bending. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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