Synonyms of bowed out

bowed out

verb

past tense of bow out

as in fell

to undergo defeat

quite embarrassingly, the top-seeded player bowed out in the first round of competition

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fell
• lost
• faltered
• threw
• took the count
• cracked (up)
• struck out
• missed
• failed
• collapsed
• washed out
• forfeited
• flopped
• folded
• tanked
• flunked
• foundered
• bombed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• won
• prevailed
• conquered
• succeeded
• triumphed
• flourished
• prospered
• thrived

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bowed out

However, when Damon bowed out to star in The Odyssey, Affleck took over the role and, well, that’s where Garner drew the line. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2026

There is no offseason from a city’s and a fanbase’s obsession, but last season has long been over, a fact that coach Ben Johnson has belabored since his team bowed out of the playoffs on an overtime field goal last January. — Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

The announced exhibition tied to 2027's Met Gala—featuring the work of designer John Galliano—drew so much backlash that Galliano has bowed out. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

No Met honoree has ever bowed out before, nor has any pre-announced theme been canceled. — Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026

Also complicating matters is that some voters already have cast absentee ballots for Democrats who have bowed out of the race but remain on the ballot. — Gaby Vinick, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

In 2014, when Democrats bowed out of the Senate race to clear the way for independent entrepreneur Greg Orman, Republican incumbent Pat Roberts won the race by more than 10 percentage points. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026

A day later, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who had bowed out on July 8, reentered the race. — Scott Bauer, Twin Cities, 29 July 2026

Variety understands Odom bowed out after the first act and was replaced by Manaia Glassey-Ohlson. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 24 July 2026