bent 1 of 3

chiefly British

bent

2 of 3

noun

bent

3 of 3

verb

past tense of bend
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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun bent differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bent are aptitude, faculty, genius, gift, knack, and talent. While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

When would aptitude be a good substitute for bent?

While the synonyms aptitude and bent are close in meaning, aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

When is faculty a more appropriate choice than bent?

The synonyms faculty and bent are sometimes interchangeable, but faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

In what contexts can genius take the place of bent?

Although the words genius and bent have much in common, genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

When might gift be a better fit than bent?

The words gift and bent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

Where would knack be a reasonable alternative to bent?

In some situations, the words knack and bent are roughly equivalent. However, knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

When is it sensible to use talent instead of bent?

The meanings of talent and bent largely overlap; however, talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

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 bent
Adjective
As the moon slipped into the deepest part of our planet's shadow — a period known as totality — a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering saw the moon adopt a bloody red hue, as sunlight scattered by Earth's atmosphere was bent onto the lunar surface. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025 As the woman tries to comfort him, telling him that his mom would be back soon, the cat, who is looking at her with eyes wide open and ears bent to the back of the head, starts meowing at her loudly as a form of protest. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
At one point, a bird crashes into the aerial camera, sending the device swirling down to Earth like a meteor bent on a crash land. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025 The post included five images showing the couple embracing in a floral setting, with a closeup shot of Swift’s ring – a dazzling cushion cut diamond with a gold band – and another showing Kelce bent on one knee. Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
In the midst of the hubbub, Henry bent his long, thin legs to speak to his granddaughter eye to eye. Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025 That the Twins were in a position late to possibly win Wednesday night’s game is a testament to Bailey Ober and the team’s bullpen, which bent but did not break over the first nine innings of the game. Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bent
Adjective
  • Their boss, the only one not carrying a blaster, pointed a long crooked finger at Rusty and all the Blasters were raised at Rusty in unison.
    Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
  • For a Chicago Cubs lineup that has struggled lately to consistently score runs, let alone put up a crooked number, Friday’s opener against the Colorado Rockies provided the ideal bounce-back environment coming off the sweep in San Francisco.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Nowadays people see small images on their phones so there’s a tendency to crop in on everything.
    Adam Morganstern, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • With that said, his biggest flaw remains a tendency to sail throws high from the pocket.
    Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Science has a knack for giving us answers, but sometimes its best trick is leaving us with better questions.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
  • His knack for being able to disappear and resurface with a whole new identity led authorities to dub him the Chameleon Killer.
    KC Baker, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • On Queen West stands a cathedral to gastronomy, complete with maple wood arched ceiling and steaks worth worshipping.
    Kate Dingwall, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The doors of its Venetian-style facade open up to welcoming spaces characterized by beam ceilings, arched windows and original frescoes.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Moscow has devoted considerable resources, manpower, and political will to its invasion of the country next door.
    Jeremy Shapiro, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Wicks’ modest-but-devoted flock includes devout church lady Martha Delacroix (Close), circumspect groundskeeper Samson Holt (Church), tightly-wound lawyer Vera Draven, Esq.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That deal gave rise to the Giorgio Armani Corporation and its multiple lines aimed at international markets.
    Elizabeth Castaldo Lundén, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Honda says these changes make the Civic Si—still the only car in its class offered solely with a manual transmission—its most engaging version yet, aimed squarely at driving enthusiasts.
    Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Bathrooms are also curved, with an abundance of wood and dark-green tile.
    Kim Velsey, Curbed, 27 Aug. 2025
  • The skull vault curved like that of Homo sapiens.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Therefore a crucial work in the career of one of the greatest of filmmakers is missing—and the understanding and appreciation of her career is distorted.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2025
  • For decades, Black performers, writers, and producers have fought to carve out space in an industry that too often overlooked or distorted their stories.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bent. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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