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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bends
Sarah Schulman,
Literary Hub,
29 June 2026
The star crossing in front of the other one brightens and bends the latter object’s light, thereby acting like a giant magnifying glass.
—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
25 June 2026
If a planet is orbiting the closer star, its gravity also slightly bends this light.
—
CBS News,
24 June 2026
When Georgie bends down and peers into the drain, a pair of eyes stare back at him.
—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Harvest the flowers as the buds first begin to open and when the stem still bends easily.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
14 June 2026
Build a fair number upstream, and the appeals layer downstream quietly bends it back.
—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2026
Their goal is to reproduce a 1919 eclipse experiment that measured how the sun’s gravity bends the light from distant stars and confirmed Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, according to the Spanish Scientific and Advisory Committee for the Trio of Eclipses.
—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
The responder then bends down to gently stroke the bird before getting another idea.
—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
Matthew Mulligan,
NBC news,
26 June 2026
Follow with 5–10 side bends per side, reaching toward your knee while keeping your movements slow and controlled.
—
Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan,
Health,
24 June 2026
Few officials have studied more carefully how the global energy system bends and buckles under pressure.
—
Clay Chandler,
semafor.com,
19 June 2026
Nine goals for your country is not the tally of a player who transforms teams and bends tournaments to their will.
—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
14 June 2026
But just around a few bends in the sandstone walls, life began to appear.
—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
Humidity, altitude, wind, and even temperature can subtly affect how much the ball bends during flight.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
3 June 2026
The vessel bends, blocks, and whips the wind into complex micro-currents before the air ever hits the sails.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
2 June 2026
Trollstigen, the famous mountain road of tight hairpin bends, is another major draw.
—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
As if the arc of history just naturally bends towards justice without aggrieved people putting pressure on it.
—
Sarah Schulman,
Literary Hub,
29 June 2026
The star crossing in front of the other one brightens and bends the latter object’s light, thereby acting like a giant magnifying glass.
—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
25 June 2026
If a planet is orbiting the closer star, its gravity also slightly bends this light.
—
CBS News,
24 June 2026
When Georgie bends down and peers into the drain, a pair of eyes stare back at him.
—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Harvest the flowers as the buds first begin to open and when the stem still bends easily.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
14 June 2026
Build a fair number upstream, and the appeals layer downstream quietly bends it back.
—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2026
Their goal is to reproduce a 1919 eclipse experiment that measured how the sun’s gravity bends the light from distant stars and confirmed Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, according to the Spanish Scientific and Advisory Committee for the Trio of Eclipses.
—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
The responder then bends down to gently stroke the bird before getting another idea.
—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
Noun
Despite Iran’s threats, 20 of those ships had taken a route far south of Iran that hugs the coastline of the United Arab Emirates and bends along Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, avoiding Iranian waters.
—
Matthew Mulligan,
NBC news,
26 June 2026
Follow with 5–10 side bends per side, reaching toward your knee while keeping your movements slow and controlled.
—
Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan,
Health,
24 June 2026
Few officials have studied more carefully how the global energy system bends and buckles under pressure.
—
Clay Chandler,
semafor.com,
19 June 2026
Nine goals for your country is not the tally of a player who transforms teams and bends tournaments to their will.
—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
14 June 2026
But just around a few bends in the sandstone walls, life began to appear.
—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
Humidity, altitude, wind, and even temperature can subtly affect how much the ball bends during flight.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
3 June 2026
The vessel bends, blocks, and whips the wind into complex micro-currents before the air ever hits the sails.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
2 June 2026
Trollstigen, the famous mountain road of tight hairpin bends, is another major draw.
—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bends
Verb
-
Smith arches over the patient, his body an umbrella to protect the wound.
-
The protective netting that arches over so many of the roads in the eastern Donbas region – stopping drones in their tracks – is not your friend here, but a limitation on movement.
Verb
-
The North Dakota library, located near the national park gateway town of Medora, devotes a number of exhibits to Roosevelt’s commitment to protecting America’s vanishing wildlands and wild animals.
-
For example, one of my friends devotes each day of the week to a different zone in her house.
Verb
-
That's significant because the nonprofit aims to reduce the stigma of mental health disorders, especially among Asian American families.
-
As Europe seeks to expand its position in advanced semiconductor technologies, the new partnership aims to create a production environment capable of supporting both startups and established companies working on photonic chip innovations.
Verb
-
Tumon Bay, the island’s main resort district, curves in a sweep of gorgeous waters backed by limestone cliffs and a skyline of hotels that reflect Guam’s long‑standing popularity with Japanese and Korean travelers.
-
Phoebe Philo’s version, a backless white tank with a dramatic ruffle that curves across the waist and up the shoulder blades transforms the silhouette into an avant-garde sculpture.
Verb
-
Progressives across the country have spent years arguing that unlimited outside spending distorts democracy, empowers wealthy interests, and undermines trust in government.
-
This lyrical collection from B Batchelor—a 2025 Haymarket Writing Freedom Fellow, and a recipient of multiple awards from PEN America—explores the way incarceration distorts time.
Verb
-
To hold the phone in place, the stand comes with a magnetic ring sticker that attaches to the back of a phone or phone case.
-
Available in pink or blue, the toy—which attaches to crib bars or can be situated near your child’s sleeping space—features a relaxing array of sounds, lights, and music, along with gentle motion, to encourage your darling to doze.
Noun
-
There are hardly any flat architectural surfaces, and NAUSICAÄ is shaped by curvatures and louvred details.
-
Its outstanding appeal, grandish curvatures and extraordinary interior design are just the norm for the upscale interior brand.
Noun
-
In ’94 and ’95 with the Vikings, Moon had averaged seven tilts per season of at least 275 passing yards.
-
One which changes profoundly with the tilts and turn of the planet, yet its essence holds true.
Cite this Entry
“Bends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bends. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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