1
as in bowing
bending downward or forward
the bowed branches of the weeping willow offered some protection from the rain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in succumbed
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)
finally bowed to the judge's insistence that she change her outfit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in submitted
to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit)
bowed to the craving for fresh coffee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in curved
to turn away from a straight line or course
the river bows gently to the north before it reaches the sea
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arched
to cause to turn away from a straight line
you'll have to gently bow the strip of wood in order to fit it in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bowed
Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Instead of your standard dress shoes, Styles finished the look with a perfect pair of minty-green ballet flats with bowed laces.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 Feb. 2026
The building with its bowed windows and a Queen Ann tower had already been around for nine years before its owner placed a classified ad in a July 1897 issue of The Kansas City Times.
—Kansas City Star, 19 Nov. 2025
No racist stereotypes, no demeaning facial expressions, no bowed heads, and no broken bodies from the old Hollywood.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
The composer also added synths to his orchestral score, as well as bowed metal, where a violin bow is rubbed against metal instruments like a cowbell or a Vibraphone, for when Roz has a particularly intense feeling.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Jan. 2025
Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Members of the mother’s group, Walker’s family and advocates, held hands and in unison bowed their heads to listen.
—Mariana Navarrete Villegas, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Gina remembers keeping her head bowed and her eyes low, careful not to make eye contact with her fellow customers as she was escorted back to Whole Foods Jail.
—Nora Deligter, Curbed, 6 Mar. 2026
One of the primary ambassadors of Persian classical music has been the composer and kamancheh (an Iranian bowed-instrument) virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 3 Mar. 2026
Katherine Nguyen stood with hands folded and head bowed at the altar of a Buddhist temple in Rosemead.
—Deepa Bharath, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Katherine Nguyen stood with hands folded and head bowed at the altar of a Buddhist temple in Southern California.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Unlike the mainland, where design bowed to strict classical ideals, Irish makers were freer and more idiosyncratic.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2026
That's part of why Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, hasn't yet fully bowed to White House pressure to pass the SAVE Act, which would require Americans to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
With bowed heads, friends and classmates wrapped their arms around each other.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Instead of your standard dress shoes, Styles finished the look with a perfect pair of minty-green ballet flats with bowed laces.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 Feb. 2026
The building with its bowed windows and a Queen Ann tower had already been around for nine years before its owner placed a classified ad in a July 1897 issue of The Kansas City Times.
—Kansas City Star, 19 Nov. 2025
No racist stereotypes, no demeaning facial expressions, no bowed heads, and no broken bodies from the old Hollywood.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
The composer also added synths to his orchestral score, as well as bowed metal, where a violin bow is rubbed against metal instruments like a cowbell or a Vibraphone, for when Roz has a particularly intense feeling.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
Immediately Elijah bowed his head and started to read the description of the book on the back cover.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Members of the mother’s group, Walker’s family and advocates, held hands and in unison bowed their heads to listen.
—Mariana Navarrete Villegas, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Gina remembers keeping her head bowed and her eyes low, careful not to make eye contact with her fellow customers as she was escorted back to Whole Foods Jail.
—Nora Deligter, Curbed, 6 Mar. 2026
One of the primary ambassadors of Persian classical music has been the composer and kamancheh (an Iranian bowed-instrument) virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 3 Mar. 2026
Katherine Nguyen stood with hands folded and head bowed at the altar of a Buddhist temple in Rosemead.
—Deepa Bharath, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Katherine Nguyen stood with hands folded and head bowed at the altar of a Buddhist temple in Southern California.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Unlike the mainland, where design bowed to strict classical ideals, Irish makers were freer and more idiosyncratic.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2026
That's part of why Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, hasn't yet fully bowed to White House pressure to pass the SAVE Act, which would require Americans to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowed
Adjective
-
Dethleffs had to be particularly creative with the toilet room, walling off a private space separate from the remainder of the open floor plan that fits in below the lowered roof.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Supercharge your multiplier for more winnings and have a better chance at a win with a lowered projection.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.—
Aylin Woodward,
WSJ,
21 Dec. 2021
Adjective
-
In 2024, reading scores for fourth- and eighth-graders continued a downward slide, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
This includes the Kamoa Kakula mine , one of the top global producers of copper based in Congo, which saw major flooding in the first half of 2025, resulting in a downward revision of production for 2026 and 2027.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Bowed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowed. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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