Synonyms of bowing

bowing 1 of 3

adjective

as in nodding

bending downward or forward

the bowing blossoms indicated that the petunia plant desperately needed water

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nodding
• bowed
• weeping
• falling
• descending
• hanging
• dangling
• declined
• sagging
• hung
• declining
• stooping
• drooping
• inclining
• floppy
• descendant
• pendulous
• sinking
• droopy
• suspended
• dipping
• limp
• pendent
• slumping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• upright
• rigid
• erect
• stiff
• unbending
• inflexible
• elevated
• raised
• upraised

bowing

2 of 3

verb (1)

present participle of bow

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

• succumbing
• submitting
• conceding
• surrendering
• capitulating
• relenting
• yielding
• budging
• blinking
• acquiescing
• giving in
• quitting
• throwing in the towel
• knuckling under
• deferring
• saying uncle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• resisting
• fighting
• facing
• contending
• opposing
• confronting
• objecting
• meeting
• defying
• combating
• countering
• battling
• repelling
• withstanding
• holding off
• thwarting
• breasting

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

• succumbing
• submitting
• yielding
• surrendering
• giving in
• caving (in)
• gratifying
• indulging
• catering (to)
• wallowing
• conceding (to)
• buckling (under)
• acquiescing (to)
• knuckling under
• giving over (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• resisting
• facing
• opposing
• fighting
• confronting
• objecting
• meeting
• defying
• combating
• countering
• battling
• withstanding
• repelling
• rejecting
• thwarting
• holding off
• checking
• breasting
• restraining
• curbing
• inhibiting
• constraining
• stifling
• bridling

bowing

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of bow

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

• curving
• bending
• arching
• sweeping
• rounding
• turning
• arcing
• falling off
• winding
• swerving
• crooking
• trending
• circling
• curling
• hooking
• looping
• wheeling
• spiraling
• coiling
• twisting
• deviating
• veering
• curlicuing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straightening

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

• bending
• arching
• hooking
• curving
• twisting
• curling
• crooking
• turning
• waving
• swerving
• deflecting
• reflecting
• rounding
• veering
• swirling
• inflecting
• arcing
• weaving
• diverting
• incurving
• coiling
• looping
• spiraling
• warping
• twining
• kinking
• denting
• inclining
• sloping
• entwining
• winding
• dimpling
• enrolling
• meandering
• incurvating
• declining

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straightening
• unbending
• uncurling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bowing

Verb

The film continues a strong bond between two-time Oscar winner Pitt and Paramount, with their survival thriller Heart of the Beast bowing next weekend. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026

Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime, starring Robert Pattinson, is set to open the Beyond Fest genre festival in Los Angeles after bowing in Venice. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

Standing in a holding pen for inmates, wearing orange jail attire, Holdo looked back at Savery almost admiringly, at times bowing his head. — Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

As with most festivals, the majority of the movies bowing in Venice don’t deal directly with politics. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

Van Os said studies have shown cows respond to current weather conditions by facing away from the direction rain is blowing and bowing their heads. — Lance Schulteis, jsonline.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation on Saturday, bowing to mounting pressure after tens of thousands of students and supporters took to the streets demanding his removal and sweeping reforms to India’s examination system. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 25 July 2026

Winds gusted up to 80 miles per hour, bowing palm trees and knocking down power lines that sparked the fires. — Angus Chen, STAT, 22 July 2026

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired his commander in chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, on Tuesday, bowing to pressure after the removal of popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov sparked the fiercest leadership crisis of his presidency. — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 21 July 2026