BOBS Synonyms: 157 Similar and Opposite Words

bobs 1 of 3

noun

plural of bob, Scottish

as in bouquets

a bunch of flowers the lassie carried only a little bob on her wedding day

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bobs

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of bob

as in shaves

to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument bobbed her waist-length hair herself on her 18th birthday

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bobs

3 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of bob

as in pumps

to make short up-and-down movements a family of ducks bobbing on the water

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in bangs

to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner he playfully bobbed his brother on the nose to get his attention

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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 bobs

Noun

Mancuso went from needing five or six bobs for the Bob Army sketch this season to needing 14 and one for a dog — technically doable, but still a big lift to figure out exactly how to coordinate and build what’s needed. —

Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 9 June 2026 From Selena Gomez to Lily Collins, all the It girls are sporting Italian bobs. —

Amanda Le, InStyle, 2 June 2026 There are bobs that are much more geometric, polished, or structured—like the classic straight bob or blunt bob—while the Capri bob looks for movement and a certain pretty imperfection. —

Vanessa Santos, Glamour, 1 June 2026 Popular mid-length blonde hairstyles include textured bobs, layered curls, and curtain bangs. —

Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026 Smith bobs and weaves around the question. —

USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026 Emma Stone Speaking of bobs, Emma Stone's is absolutely iconic. —

Marci Robin, Allure, 12 Jan. 2026 While the ’60s was known for its backcombed bouffants and brushed back bobs, about midway through the decade, Brigitte Bardot brought pigtails into the beauty zeitgeist. —

Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 Dec. 2024 Lately, bobs have been on the rise, thanks to celebrities showing off their sleek new chops. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024

Verb

Her head bobs gently, then sharply tilts at specific moments, particularly when certain words cut through the stream of conversation. —

Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026 Just after lunchtime on a Saturday in November, a sea of purple braids bobs in unison, barely clearing the tops of the movie-theater seats behind them. —

Eliza Berman, Time, 9 Dec. 2025 The reader bobs along in the author’s stream of consciousness, riding crests of despair, anger, and hilarity as Toews assembles the shards of her past to investigate her will to write, which is deeply entwined with her will to live. —

Kristen Martin, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2025 But sometimes even icons need to switch things up a bit—cue the dizzying array of flippy waves, shags, and bobs over the years. —

Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 19 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bobs

Noun

Local residents competed in a variety of whimsical categories, with winners walking away with bouquets and bragging rights.

— La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2026
This is also by far the coolest crowd at the festival, a sea of designer outfits, out-there silhouettes, fresh haircuts, and even bouquets of flowers.

— E.R. Pulgar, SPIN, 10 June 2026