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
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
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Recent Examples of bending
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
From railroads to telecoms to energy, industries with concentrated wealth and technical expertise have usually succeeded in bending rules to their favor.
—Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Still, the first looks at the Air, shared by leaker Majin Bu, evoke a fear of bending.
—PC Magazine, 3 Sep. 2025
Miller could be seen bending over and grimacing after the fateful pitch, in an obvious degree of pain.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
The creator of Breaking Bad and prequel spinoff Better Call Saul reteams with his Saul star for the genre-bending series about the most miserable person on Earth’s pursuit to save humanity from happiness.
—EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The name of the event is taken from the practice of bending saplings in a certain direction that would take root as a sign post.
—Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Chance had, throughout his catalogue, proudly flaunted his status as an independent artist, writing entire songs about not signing to a major label and not bending the knee to corporate interest.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
To reduce bending and stooping, the beds should be at least 36 inches tall, said Aguilar in the news release.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
Reeves has repeatedly dismissed the possibility of bending her own fiscal rules on borrowing.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
From railroads to telecoms to energy, industries with concentrated wealth and technical expertise have usually succeeded in bending rules to their favor.
—Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Still, the first looks at the Air, shared by leaker Majin Bu, evoke a fear of bending.
—PC Magazine, 3 Sep. 2025
Miller could be seen bending over and grimacing after the fateful pitch, in an obvious degree of pain.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
The creator of Breaking Bad and prequel spinoff Better Call Saul reteams with his Saul star for the genre-bending series about the most miserable person on Earth’s pursuit to save humanity from happiness.
—EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The name of the event is taken from the practice of bending saplings in a certain direction that would take root as a sign post.
—Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Chance had, throughout his catalogue, proudly flaunted his status as an independent artist, writing entire songs about not signing to a major label and not bending the knee to corporate interest.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
To reduce bending and stooping, the beds should be at least 36 inches tall, said Aguilar in the news release.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 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
-
However, Valadao has a strong local following, and this new seat would be the most politically tenuous among those Democrats are aiming to flip.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The Arizona Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
-
Here, miles away from the nearest public road, a small canyon carves into curving limestone.—
Eva Frederick,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
The curved design trend has delivered an abundance of playful pieces to homes over the past couple of years.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The video of serene waves that swished behind the curved stage at the start of Dua Lipa’s concert slowly intensified until the tide became a surge, an appropriate analogy for the pop superstar’s arrival in the US for the first time in more than three years.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Rieger admitted that such complaints exist and are partially driven by believers failing to understand intersectionality and its purpose — applying it as a policy excuse when and where convenient.—
John Scott Lewinski,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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But these trials have been small, and largely limited to applying direct heat to a limb or muscle group—not simply moving that muscle in a warm room.—
Lauren Leffer,
Popular Science,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bending. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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