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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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 bending
Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Following the astronomical success of his genre-bending period film, Mendonça Filho’s inbox is filled to the brim with meeting requests and scripts.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
This move proudly dovetails with a broader effort in the US to repackage the right as transgressive and rule-bending rather than conservative and tradition-bound.
—Simon Denny, Artforum, 20 Apr. 2026
The condition causes bones to become so weak and brittle that even a cough or bending over could cause a break, according to the Mayo Clinic.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket was the first to treat the world to the brain-bending sight of a rocket landing itself.
—Arianna Huffington, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
This may occur due to the neck bending forward, compressing the veins, the authors suggested.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
There is a genre-bending western; two stories blend speculative details with realism to portray women planning their escapes; three stories spec-ify the only-daughter experience; and one story flirts with where to begin.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Kuhlken worked with me at home for about a month, providing basic exercises focusing on bending and straightening my knees, improving my walking and building my strength and balance.
—Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
Video from the area caught a person in gray sweatpants and a black hoodie bending over a cardboard box and appearing to pull out a small puppy.
—Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Following the astronomical success of his genre-bending period film, Mendonça Filho’s inbox is filled to the brim with meeting requests and scripts.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
This move proudly dovetails with a broader effort in the US to repackage the right as transgressive and rule-bending rather than conservative and tradition-bound.
—Simon Denny, Artforum, 20 Apr. 2026
The condition causes bones to become so weak and brittle that even a cough or bending over could cause a break, according to the Mayo Clinic.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket was the first to treat the world to the brain-bending sight of a rocket landing itself.
—Arianna Huffington, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
This may occur due to the neck bending forward, compressing the veins, the authors suggested.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
There is a genre-bending western; two stories blend speculative details with realism to portray women planning their escapes; three stories spec-ify the only-daughter experience; and one story flirts with where to begin.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Kuhlken worked with me at home for about a month, providing basic exercises focusing on bending and straightening my knees, improving my walking and building my strength and balance.
—Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bending
Adjective
-
The main level includes a grand foyer, according to its listing, with a curved staircase, a front parlor with pocket doors, a formal dining room and a renovated kitchen with soapstone counters, wine fridge and a sitting area with a warming stove.—
Kaitlyn Keegan,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The curved heel has become a signature detail in the singer’s shoe designs as of late and gives her shoes a modern edge, as opposed to the traditional slim stiletto heel.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The plant is a clump-forming fern with arching stems.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
10 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
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
-
Moyes moved to San Sebastian side Real Sociedad in November 2014, seven months after that unceremonious end to his time at Old Trafford, aiming to rebuild his reputation.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Ukraine produced four million drones last year and is aiming for seven million this year.—
Trudy Rubin,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The mattress's latex core has a five-zone structure that provides varying levels of firmness tailored to support different areas of your body — with the most enhanced support in the mid-section to prevent your back from curving or sagging.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Hiding in a labyrinth of gardens and more than 50 art installations, private bungalows and three-bedroom villas with freshwater pools overlook Crete’s curving, mountainous coastline.—
Yulia Denisyuk,
Robb Report,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Normalizing interactions where such limitations do not exist risks distorting the very standard by which human love is measured.—
Oluwaseun Damilola Sanwoolu,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Letting your garden hose slowly drip in this area or attaching a misting attachment to your hose will create the perfect patch of mud for bees to use to build their nests.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Looping the chain around a tree is a common choice, as is attaching it to a hook secured in a wall.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One key to detecting bites and hooking cool-water crappies lies in understanding the way the fish feed.—
Cory Schmidt,
Outdoor Life,
15 Apr. 2026
-
For example, when Athena hits a step or an obstacle, the front flippers extend forward and upward, hooking onto the ledge before pulling up the rest of the robot and stabilizing it.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bending. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
