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
Jillian Steinhauer, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
The sides and top of the car were damaged, and the car appeared to have crashed into a building where the road bends.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
The culture bends toward drama, employees disengage, and real progress is delayed.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
When prompted about this particular issue, Rhonda Odom-Pollard, Sakeenah’s mom, simply bends her elbows and turns her palms up.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2025
The infrastructure bends with them.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Separate channels in the microfinger are filled with liquid metal, and as the microfinger bends, the channels elongate, thinning out the metal.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 Nov. 2022
Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
For more uniform waves, though, Leake recommends loose twists and rope braids with six sections—this will make for tighter bends—always wrapping them away from the face for a more voluminous, and overall more flattering, style.
—Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 25 Aug. 2025
Zivix reports that its algorithms can register complex playing techniques like polyphonic bends, slides, hammer-ons and pull-offs, tapping and muting.
—New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2025
Trapped in a terrifying world where reality bends and memory betrays, Polly must navigate a series of impossible choices.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2025
If Trump bends to Chinese pressure and lifts HBM controls, China could more easily produce AI chips at scale, Biden had feared.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2025
Today’s best practices encourage moving flood water as slowly as possible by returning bends and curves to urban rivers.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Verb
Yet Antonia isn’t fragile; her forceful imagination bends the others to her will.
—Jillian Steinhauer, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
The sides and top of the car were damaged, and the car appeared to have crashed into a building where the road bends.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
The culture bends toward drama, employees disengage, and real progress is delayed.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
When prompted about this particular issue, Rhonda Odom-Pollard, Sakeenah’s mom, simply bends her elbows and turns her palms up.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2025
The infrastructure bends with them.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Separate channels in the microfinger are filled with liquid metal, and as the microfinger bends, the channels elongate, thinning out the metal.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 Nov. 2022
Noun
Instead of going dark, some sunlight still reaches the moon, glowing red because Earth’s atmosphere bends and filters the sunlight.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
For more uniform waves, though, Leake recommends loose twists and rope braids with six sections—this will make for tighter bends—always wrapping them away from the face for a more voluminous, and overall more flattering, style.
—Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 25 Aug. 2025
Zivix reports that its algorithms can register complex playing techniques like polyphonic bends, slides, hammer-ons and pull-offs, tapping and muting.
—New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2025
Trapped in a terrifying world where reality bends and memory betrays, Polly must navigate a series of impossible choices.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2025
If Trump bends to Chinese pressure and lifts HBM controls, China could more easily produce AI chips at scale, Biden had feared.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2025
Today’s best practices encourage moving flood water as slowly as possible by returning bends and curves to urban rivers.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bends
Verb
-
This scene must have inspired the one in the iconic six-hour 1995 BBC series, which devotes a full minute to Elizabeth’s muddy walk.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
-
That’s a fancy way of saying that the fund devotes some of its portfolio to debts that rise in value with inflation.—
Michael Foster,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
According to a five-pillar plan shared with CNBC, Cruz also aims to create federal standards for AI, prevent AI from being used in harmful ways such as scams, allow free speech and address ethical concerns.—
Emily Wilkins,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Slate Auto, which is also funded by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and General Catalyst, aims to bring modular, fully customizable electric trucks to market.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The mortality curves from Gompertz models associated with the three migratory strategies are presented on panel A–C—the death rates m(x) (gray dots) are also presented.—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
As the road curves around, the Inland Sea comes into view, its small pool feeding into the ocean through a massive slit in the cliff.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The African Union argues that the Mercator projection distorts the continent, both in size and global attention.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Fatigue distorts a leader’s judgment.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The area was hit heavily by flooding and widespread destruction because the Mississippi River attaches at the mouth of the ward.—
Suzette Hackney,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
As evidence that Midjourney trained its AI system on its intellectual property, the studio attaches dozens of images showing the tool’s outputs compared to stills from its movies and TV shows.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Just look at the curvatures displayed by the unique design setting it apart from the rest.—
Marc D. Grasso,
Boston Herald,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Its signature lies in fluid curvatures and elegant silhouettes that strike the perfect balance between understated and striking.—
Lauren Alexis Fisher,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
Noun
-
The warps also mimic the tilts of the orbits of the planets in our solar system.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Start by understanding your audience and what actually hooks them on YouTube.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
To develop it, the research team incorporated mushroom heads or hooks directly into the building components.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bends. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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