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
Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026
They’re also equipped with the brand’s Feel Good Flex outsole, which is ultra-lightweight and bends easily for convenient packing.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
Gazes tangle, sound mutes, time bends.
—Addie Citchens, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
When a radar signal hits it, the physical structure of the resin naturally bends the waves toward a focal point.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026
But some sunlight still sneaks through Earth’s atmosphere, bends around the planet and lands on the moon.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 3 Mar. 2026
But selenelion is an optical effect in which Earth's atmosphere bends light slightly over the horizon—this is called atmospheric refraction, which slightly lifts both objects above the horizon from our perspective.
—Stefanie Waldek, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 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
Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2026
Navigating the subtle bends of the lake behind Englebright Dam, the vessel chugged across the otherwise still water, the late afternoon sun shimmering across the ripples in its wake.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
The soft machine bends, snaps and resets itself automatically, powered entirely by material physics instead of chips or wires.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026
The city or state bends over backward, only to have the company fail to deliver.
—Kathryn Anne Edwards, Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2026
The only light that can reach it is filtered through Earth's atmosphere, which scatters short wavelengths of light and bends longer red wavelengths inward.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
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
Verb
Time may be cruel, but Ederra bends it to her needs.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026
They’re also equipped with the brand’s Feel Good Flex outsole, which is ultra-lightweight and bends easily for convenient packing.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
Gazes tangle, sound mutes, time bends.
—Addie Citchens, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
When a radar signal hits it, the physical structure of the resin naturally bends the waves toward a focal point.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026
But some sunlight still sneaks through Earth’s atmosphere, bends around the planet and lands on the moon.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 3 Mar. 2026
But selenelion is an optical effect in which Earth's atmosphere bends light slightly over the horizon—this is called atmospheric refraction, which slightly lifts both objects above the horizon from our perspective.
—Stefanie Waldek, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 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
Noun
Crafted into undone bends, the style disguises flyaways and limp ends.
—Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2026
Navigating the subtle bends of the lake behind Englebright Dam, the vessel chugged across the otherwise still water, the late afternoon sun shimmering across the ripples in its wake.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
The soft machine bends, snaps and resets itself automatically, powered entirely by material physics instead of chips or wires.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026
The city or state bends over backward, only to have the company fail to deliver.
—Kathryn Anne Edwards, Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2026
The only light that can reach it is filtered through Earth's atmosphere, which scatters short wavelengths of light and bends longer red wavelengths inward.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
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
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
-
For every stay booked, Nômade donates $1 to Tulum Sostenible, an organization that aims to help protect the ecosystem, clean trash from the streets and ocean, and promote waste reduction.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The new partnership aims to address this challenge by leveraging H2Pro’s Decoupled Water Electrolysis (DWE) technology.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Representing a departure from the artist’s preferred medium of wood, the monument curves outward from a narrow base, its vertical form and vaguely human contours seeming to emanate light, notwithstanding the material’s heft.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Groovy Baby The color combinations on this retro stripe, which curves at the will of the nail artist, are endless.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That is to say that the way the current system is set up distorts the healthcare economy in ways that don’t allow for much price competition, with ever-rising insurance premiums as the result.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
First, the skull weakens and distorts sound waves.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Additional biomarker testing The new guidelines also suggest testing for apolipoprotein B (apoB), a protein that attaches to harmful fat particles in the blood, once a patient has met their LDL goal.—
Lindsey Leake,
NBC news,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The hydrogen leaks were fixed at the launch pad by replacing suspect seals in the umbilical system that attaches fuel lines to the base of the rocket.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 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
-
In 2024, Kansas City went 11-0 in tilts decided by eight points or fewer.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
-
But the idea is that putting on clothes that are more formal tilts you more towards that abstract side.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bends. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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