as in fell
to undergo defeat
quite embarrassingly, the top-seeded player bowed out in the first round of competition
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Recent Examples of bowed out
Coach Mark Few’s Zags bowed out in the second round for the second straight year after reaching the Sweet 16 in nine consecutive tournaments, a run that included two losses in the national title game.
—
Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
The takeover deal, which was struck last month after Netflix bowed out, would put HBO and CNN under the control of Larry Ellison and his son David, the chairman of Paramount, which includes CBS.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Only one candidate — former Assemblymember Ian Calderon — bowed out as a result of the letter.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
Although the Matildas bowed out to England in the semi-finals at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, co-hosting the tournament with New Zealand had a transformative effect on women’s soccer across the country.
—Michael Bailey, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Shortly before Netflix publicly bowed out, champagne was rolled into the executive suite at Paramount’s Melrose lot.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
The sinkhole didn’t appear to be connected to any public utilities, so the organization bowed out, Krul said.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026
Savannah Guthrie, who has bowed out of hosting NBC’s Winter Olympics coverage in light of the disappearance, spoke directly to her mother in the video.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
Walz bowed out of his reelection race earlier this month.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
The takeover deal, which was struck last month after Netflix bowed out, would put HBO and CNN under the control of Larry Ellison and his son David, the chairman of Paramount, which includes CBS.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Only one candidate — former Assemblymember Ian Calderon — bowed out as a result of the letter.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
Although the Matildas bowed out to England in the semi-finals at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, co-hosting the tournament with New Zealand had a transformative effect on women’s soccer across the country.
—Michael Bailey, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Shortly before Netflix publicly bowed out, champagne was rolled into the executive suite at Paramount’s Melrose lot.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
The sinkhole didn’t appear to be connected to any public utilities, so the organization bowed out, Krul said.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026
Savannah Guthrie, who has bowed out of hosting NBC’s Winter Olympics coverage in light of the disappearance, spoke directly to her mother in the video.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
Walz bowed out of his reelection race earlier this month.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowed out
Verb
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With a hollow interior trunk, Stumpy was among 158 trees felled in 2024 as part of a project aimed at shoring up a sea wall near the National Mall.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
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And to be sure, there were winds and rain strong enough to fell several trees, flood a few roads, and knock out power in some Maryland and Virginia suburbs.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The county gained 12,762 people from international migration and lost 6,978 people to domestic migration.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
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Some 1,270 counties lost residents in the year to July 1, 2025, according to Census Bureau figures out Thursday.—
Augusta Saraiva,
Bloomberg,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Washington led 111-106 with 6 1/2 minutes remaining, but the Wizards defense faltered after that.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Fland’s defense — his calling card — faltered on the decisive play.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bowed out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowed%20out. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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