as in curved
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in curving
to turn away from a straight line or course
the stream bends slightly to the east
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of bending
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
The focus is creating wildly fun, commercial, character-driven, genre-bending films.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
The hands-on project includes light digging and bending on natural terrain so come prepared for some activity.
—Pomerado News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
But neutrinos have proven more than capable of bending the life path of a scientist.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
The income that a proficiency with needle and thread commands relative to the skills needed and the physical toll of bending over detailed work for hours likely discourages teenagers and young adults from heeding Bae’s advice, fashion industry experts said.
—Anne D’innocenzio, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
His first touch resulted in a wide-open dunk for Bassey, displaying the kind of defense-bending gravity the Warriors have missed for months.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026
Hold the flag at the top and press the wire into the soil without bending it.
—Nora Doonan, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
Their daughter can also be seen in the photos, sweetly bending over to kiss her mom's stomach.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
Wonderlab’s focus will be creating wildly fun, commercial, character-driven, genre-bending films.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
The focus is creating wildly fun, commercial, character-driven, genre-bending films.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
The hands-on project includes light digging and bending on natural terrain so come prepared for some activity.
—Pomerado News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
But neutrinos have proven more than capable of bending the life path of a scientist.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
The income that a proficiency with needle and thread commands relative to the skills needed and the physical toll of bending over detailed work for hours likely discourages teenagers and young adults from heeding Bae’s advice, fashion industry experts said.
—Anne D’innocenzio, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
His first touch resulted in a wide-open dunk for Bassey, displaying the kind of defense-bending gravity the Warriors have missed for months.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026
Hold the flag at the top and press the wire into the soil without bending it.
—Nora Doonan, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
Their daughter can also be seen in the photos, sweetly bending over to kiss her mom's stomach.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bending
Adjective
-
The headboard shape boasts the same curved ‘wings’ as those high-back chairs.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
10 Apr. 2026
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The research team also revealed that their strategy is a highly effective approach for improving not only the thermoelectric and mechanical performances of Ag2Se but also its applicability in curved or flexible energy harvesting devices.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The permanent exhibit includes a full-scale replica of the Nihonbashi Bridge, an arching wooden structure that once joined the five roads to Edo at the gate to the capital.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Mar. 2026
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Hawaii's Kīlauea volcano was putting on a spectacular show Tuesday evening, with its latest eruptive episode producing arching bands of red lava higher than some skyscrapers.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Nothing will ever undo the original sin, and devoting your life to ruining someone else’s is a loss for both of you.—
Paula L. Woods,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Tony has fully jumped into our theatre program devoting himself to straight plays and musical theatre.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Colorado Avalanche hit the road against the Edmonton Oilers aiming to prolong a six-game road winning streak.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The Bears would contribute $2 billion, with the state aiming to spend about $1 billion, to be repaid through an admissions tax and other local taxes.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Didier—tall, blondish, and well fed—took a black iron pan having fairly high, curving sides, set it near the edge of the hot, flat metal cooktop, filled it halfway with coarse salt, and every so often shook it back and forth.—
Jeffrey Steingarten,
Vogue,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Its exterior is most notable for its gently curving facades across the building’s west and south faces.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The front has square glass block masonry on the lower half, which lets light in while reducing what's visible outside by distorting the view.—
Stefan Ionescu
March 30,
New Atlas,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Kyle is just outing herself as a gossip and is distorting what everyone has to say to try to one-up Dorit in her own life.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Make sure your bee hotel is protected from afternoon sun and rain by attaching it to a garage wall, for example, under an eave.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
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The crew's sleeping arrangement involves attaching sleeping bags to the walls of the craft and resting for eight hours, according to NASA.—
Mason Leib,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If any one case is thrown out, Trump’s allies will just try again, hooking onto any conceivable excuse until both your will and your resources are depleted.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The trial is a test case, known as a bellwether, tied to about 2,000 other pending lawsuits brought by parents and school districts arguing that social media giants should be considered manufacturers of defective products for hooking a generation of young people to social media feeds.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bending. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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