1
as in arches
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 devotes
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 aims
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 curves
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 distorts
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 attaches
to cause (something) to hold to another
bend a leash to the dog's collar
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in curvatures
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 bends
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Either way, the eye bends light too strongly to see far away.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
The course followed a series of winds and bends down the famed Olympia delle Tofane slope.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Where the vortex bends southward, cold air follows.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 9 Feb. 2026
This orbit allowed the spacecraft to pass behind Jupiter relative to Earth, creating a rare opportunity to study how the planet’s atmosphere bends radio signals.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026
There is a contrarian streak that runs through John Bonner, a streak that takes the improbable and bends it to the possible — before bringing it to reality.
—Brian Robin, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
The River Thames bends round in a horseshoe shape, easy for a bombardier to target.
—Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Until then, life bends around the electricity timetable.
—Derek Gatopoulos, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2026
Adam Ismail, The Drive, 18 Feb. 2026
Prices of crypto currencies, especially bitcoin, did a deep-knee bends, ditto for gold and silver.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
The broken sheets of ice flow downstream until they get stuck at narrow points, sharp bends, or bridges.
—Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
His bends and sighs can be heard on records from Mouth Painter, North Americans, the Rose City Band and Jeffrey Silverstein, not to mention a string of solo albums both alone and with various bands (the post-rocking Tanks, the more sedate Unit).
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 11 Feb. 2026
Those bends tend to set up in ways that reinforce background conditions related to Earth’s geography, Swain says.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 9 Feb. 2026
As the rising sun seeps through twisted mangroves, JP Clark’s fly fishing rod bends suddenly.
—Max Chesnes, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
As the comedy progresses, its buoyant tone clenches and darkens, and the plot bends and lurches, in ways that, to me, felt unnecessarily punitive toward both Haru and the audience.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026
It has long been said that the arc of the moral universe bends towards justice.
—David Ostendorf, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
The arc of a wrongful-conviction story bends toward exoneration and release—a flawed but heartening correction of past wrongs.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Either way, the eye bends light too strongly to see far away.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
The course followed a series of winds and bends down the famed Olympia delle Tofane slope.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Where the vortex bends southward, cold air follows.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 9 Feb. 2026
This orbit allowed the spacecraft to pass behind Jupiter relative to Earth, creating a rare opportunity to study how the planet’s atmosphere bends radio signals.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026
There is a contrarian streak that runs through John Bonner, a streak that takes the improbable and bends it to the possible — before bringing it to reality.
—Brian Robin, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
The River Thames bends round in a horseshoe shape, easy for a bombardier to target.
—Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Until then, life bends around the electricity timetable.
—Derek Gatopoulos, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2026
Noun
The damping is also harsher than the bZ’s, but make no mistake, the ride’s still soft and generally comfortable, and this thing unapologetically rolls in the bends.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 18 Feb. 2026
Prices of crypto currencies, especially bitcoin, did a deep-knee bends, ditto for gold and silver.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
The broken sheets of ice flow downstream until they get stuck at narrow points, sharp bends, or bridges.
—Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
His bends and sighs can be heard on records from Mouth Painter, North Americans, the Rose City Band and Jeffrey Silverstein, not to mention a string of solo albums both alone and with various bands (the post-rocking Tanks, the more sedate Unit).
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 11 Feb. 2026
Those bends tend to set up in ways that reinforce background conditions related to Earth’s geography, Swain says.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 9 Feb. 2026
As the rising sun seeps through twisted mangroves, JP Clark’s fly fishing rod bends suddenly.
—Max Chesnes, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
As the comedy progresses, its buoyant tone clenches and darkens, and the plot bends and lurches, in ways that, to me, felt unnecessarily punitive toward both Haru and the audience.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026
It has long been said that the arc of the moral universe bends towards justice.
—David Ostendorf, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bends
Verb
-
Instead, look to modern lattices, scallops, and arches for a timeless feel that’s still up to date.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Note, however, the Vision XL is also essentially one big 10-in-tall block with a completely flat roof, whereas some hardshell RTTs, including the Skycamp, have roof designs with a high point that arches down toward the front and/or back.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The show devotes significant time to the three consultants’ past hardships as well as their ongoing bond, and that’s crystallized in a moving segment about Alexander’s harrowing recovery after a devastating stroke in 2022.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The center console devotes an inordinate amount of space to side-by-side wireless phone chargers.—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
At the same time, the law aims to funnel more money toward the women seeking an escape from the streets.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
According to the founders, the FutureNarrative Fund aims to move beyond symbolic gestures of cooperation and instead create durable working structures.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
What makes barrel jeans popular is their wide, tapered fit that curves out around the mid-leg and then cinches in at the ankle.—
India Roby,
InStyle,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The path begins in Siberia, curves around the North Pole past Greenland and Iceland, then crosses Spain before ending in the Mediterranean sunset.—
Ryan Craggs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This concentration distorts markets, raises costs for families, threatens national security, and removes decisions from Texans’ hands.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Instant gratification distorts reality in this era of college basketball.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Those are the players in recent memory who’ve commanded the kind of draft capital that reshapes franchises — the sort of seismic move that mortgages a future and, in return, attaches expectations normally reserved for franchise-carrying superstars.—
Kristian Winfield,
Hartford Courant,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The flight ultimately slipped to early March because of work to replace and test suspect seals in a quick-disconnect umbilical that attaches propellant lines to the base of the rocket.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Its outstanding appeal, grandish curvatures and extraordinary interior design are just the norm for the upscale interior brand.—
Marc D. Grasso,
Boston Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Posture Changes Spine curvatures can make standing up straight difficult, causing lower right back pain.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
6 Sep. 2025
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
-
The Kings will kiss off the Pacific briefly after these two games, but will play five straight intradivision tilts spread across the beginning and end of the Olympic break next month.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bends. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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