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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bends
Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Seay bends down in the hallway and leans in.
—Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
That film explores female vengeance and bends the idea of a period drama.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
From here, the route bends toward Athlone — a perfect excuse to step into Sean’s Bar, the world’s oldest pub, for a quick pint and a look at its 9th-century wattle‑and‑wicker walls.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Most prominently was Hugh Hayden’s permanent new sculpture, a functioning chapel that ingeniously bends at an acute angle.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
Low-impact trekking and homestays offer rare access to a region where human presence still bends to nature’s terms.
—Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2026
The historic surge was attributed in part to the comeback activities of BTS following their military hiatus — hard proof that the septet’s cultural gravity bends entire economies.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2026
When the victim bends down to place the package at the home, the video shows the suspect striking him and knocking him to the ground, hitting him repeatedly.
—Mamie Bah, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2026
Everything from trees to octopuses bends and twists.
—New Atlas, 19 May 2026
The ride travels on an elliptical track and whips riders around bends.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 8 May 2026
The fjord bends, combined with the ship being far enough away and in deep water, were key factors that saved them.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 6 May 2026
Don’t miss the short climb to Woodstock Tower for a panoramic look at the river’s famous bends.
—Hayley Hutson, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
Search in bends and folds of skin in areas such as the scalp, in and around the ears, under arms and behind knees, inside the belly button, around the waistline, and between fingers and toes.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
Grief lives most vibrantly in the periods where your life stretches and bends, the loss constant while life propels forward.
—Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
As the temperature drops, the cold causes the protein to shift into a more stable state in which one of its key structural pillars bends sharply, breaks away from its neighbor and straightens out.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
Every deployment contributes to future capability, which means the value curve bends upward with time rather than flattening.
—Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Seay bends down in the hallway and leans in.
—Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
That film explores female vengeance and bends the idea of a period drama.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
From here, the route bends toward Athlone — a perfect excuse to step into Sean’s Bar, the world’s oldest pub, for a quick pint and a look at its 9th-century wattle‑and‑wicker walls.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Most prominently was Hugh Hayden’s permanent new sculpture, a functioning chapel that ingeniously bends at an acute angle.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
Low-impact trekking and homestays offer rare access to a region where human presence still bends to nature’s terms.
—Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2026
The historic surge was attributed in part to the comeback activities of BTS following their military hiatus — hard proof that the septet’s cultural gravity bends entire economies.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2026
When the victim bends down to place the package at the home, the video shows the suspect striking him and knocking him to the ground, hitting him repeatedly.
—Mamie Bah, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
Tired of losing water pressure because of bends in your garden hose?
—Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2026
Everything from trees to octopuses bends and twists.
—New Atlas, 19 May 2026
The ride travels on an elliptical track and whips riders around bends.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 8 May 2026
The fjord bends, combined with the ship being far enough away and in deep water, were key factors that saved them.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 6 May 2026
Don’t miss the short climb to Woodstock Tower for a panoramic look at the river’s famous bends.
—Hayley Hutson, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
Search in bends and folds of skin in areas such as the scalp, in and around the ears, under arms and behind knees, inside the belly button, around the waistline, and between fingers and toes.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
Grief lives most vibrantly in the periods where your life stretches and bends, the loss constant while life propels forward.
—Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
As the temperature drops, the cold causes the protein to shift into a more stable state in which one of its key structural pillars bends sharply, breaks away from its neighbor and straightens out.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bends
Verb
-
Smith arches over the patient, his body an umbrella to protect the wound.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
-
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.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The Crash devotes little attention to Flanagan and his life prior to the incident.—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
-
The document devotes sections to anti-Black, anti-Muslim, anti-Hispanic, anti-trans and misogynistic rants.—
Anna Schecter,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Jim Lehrman, a Pleasanton resident and hydrogeologist, has advocated against the new wells, citing an online petition with over 500 signatures that aims to stop them at risk of further PFAS contamination to the region’s drinking water aquifer.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
-
The app aims to address the struggle that emerging designers face, which is a massive, exhausting logistical challenge.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The dials are all adorned with a railway minute track that curves around every petal to accentuate the flower’s form.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
19 May 2026
-
The Page style has a narrow slingback strap, a slim stiletto heel and an open front that curves into a small, petal-like peep-toe rather than a sharp cutout.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
A little past the halfway point, a heavy drumbeat crashes in and their voice distorts into screams and screeches, transforming the song from folk lament to dissonant protest.—
Nia Coats,
Pitchfork,
18 May 2026
-
Critics say that using it distorts the truth of a performance, but supporters believe that the tech discourages disruptions.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The device attaches to a patient’s finger and is used during surgery to measure oxygen in the blood.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
-
This accessory attaches to the end of a pistol, making shooting more accurate and allowing users to fire the gun like a rifle.—
Jaclyn Diaz,
NPR,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
There are hardly any flat architectural surfaces, and NAUSICAÄ is shaped by curvatures and louvred details.—
Bill Springer,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
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
Noun
-
One which changes profoundly with the tilts and turn of the planet, yet its essence holds true.—
Nick Scott,
Robb Report,
17 May 2026
-
True, the Avs have been stuck in second gear over the first three tilts of this series, and there probably won’t be a fifth game.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bends. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
