as in nodding
bending downward or forward
the bowing blossoms indicated that the petunia plant desperately needed water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in succumbing
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 submitting
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 curving
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 bending
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 bowing
Christa Swanson, CBS News, 23 May 2026
As reported, the company will continue to mark its 110th milestone with an exhibition bowing in Parma in September, before traveling the world in 2027.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
An inspector can identify visible cracking, uneven floors, sticking doors and windows, and signs of bowing walls.
—Ryan Brennan
may 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
The storms are expected to organize into clusters, and bowing segments later in the evening will take on more of a wind than hail threat, the weather service said.
—Kansas City Star, 4 May 2026
No one was bowing down and handing them the World Series trophy just for that, just like no one should write them off because of a bad stretch of games.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
The film was the top film over this past weekend after bowing on the platform Friday.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
Lateral deformation and bowing can impact the placement and performance of fuel, and the monobloc construction of these tubes is designed to mitigate those issues.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
The slideshow included photos of several cracks, the shoring posts bowing, and areas where the facade had separated from the exterior of the building.
—Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
The move was met by immediate pushback from Colorado Democrats, who accused the governor of bowing to political pressure.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 23 May 2026
As reported, the company will continue to mark its 110th milestone with an exhibition bowing in Parma in September, before traveling the world in 2027.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
An inspector can identify visible cracking, uneven floors, sticking doors and windows, and signs of bowing walls.
—Ryan Brennan
may 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
The storms are expected to organize into clusters, and bowing segments later in the evening will take on more of a wind than hail threat, the weather service said.
—Kansas City Star, 4 May 2026
No one was bowing down and handing them the World Series trophy just for that, just like no one should write them off because of a bad stretch of games.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
The film was the top film over this past weekend after bowing on the platform Friday.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
Lateral deformation and bowing can impact the placement and performance of fuel, and the monobloc construction of these tubes is designed to mitigate those issues.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
The slideshow included photos of several cracks, the shoring posts bowing, and areas where the facade had separated from the exterior of the building.
—Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowing
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
Verb
-
Yet succumbing to hubris is now more dangerous than ever.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
They were ejected into all manner of orbits, there to remain for decades before ultimately succumbing to the slow pull of Earth’s gravity at higher altitudes.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Should the center end up with 40 hours of weekly operation, staff and CRG members would be tasked with submitting a proposal on how to use the hours.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
Reporting teams have held back on submitting story pitches about important news topics out of fear of the internal repercussions.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
On the other side of the 15th floor is the large indoor pool that sits beneath a curving glass ceiling that brings in ample sunlight.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Akira Back is located inside The Henderson, the curving tower in Central Hong Kong designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.—
Jim Dobson,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
In early 2021, anchors from large container ships hooked an underwater oil pipeline on the ocean floor some 5 miles off Huntington Beach’s coast, bending it like a straw.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
-
Those who have been through major hurricanes may tell you of the surreal visual of watching their doors and windows bending to the pressure from the winds.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
28 May 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
Verb
-
With more than eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 4, Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson pulled his starters, effectively conceding the series as the Knicks turned the final minutes into a celebration.—
Alejandro Avila,
FOXNews.com,
26 May 2026
-
In the pain and promise of conceding to the fact that so much is still possible for this world and its people, no matter how grim the prognosis.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
With upright, arching branches, the shrub matures at 8 feet.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
27 May 2026
-
The grounds include rolling lawns, mature gardens, and a charming stone bridge arching over a branch of the Hackensack River.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowing. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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