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
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
On Friday, the zoo resumed business, with officials bowing to visitors and apologizing for the trouble caused.
—CBS News, 1 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
But the project was plagued by delays, and an inspection by city officials turned up large cracks, a crumbling facade, and temporary shoring posts bowing under the weight of the nearly 125-year-old building.
—Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2026
Environmental groups that have held Toyota up for years as a laggard on EVs offered a much less charitable take, saying the Japanese manufacturer is simply bowing now to their years of pressure to urge them to press the gas on electric cars as the world's largest carmaker.
—Keith Laing, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
On Friday, the zoo resumed business, with officials bowing to visitors and apologizing for the trouble caused.
—CBS News, 1 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
But the project was plagued by delays, and an inspection by city officials turned up large cracks, a crumbling facade, and temporary shoring posts bowing under the weight of the nearly 125-year-old building.
—Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2026
Environmental groups that have held Toyota up for years as a laggard on EVs offered a much less charitable take, saying the Japanese manufacturer is simply bowing now to their years of pressure to urge them to press the gas on electric cars as the world's largest carmaker.
—Keith Laing, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowing
Adjective
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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
-
The Boys – Season 5 (Prime Video) Things have gone from bad to worse in the final season of The Boys, Prime Video’s irreverent superhero satire about America succumbing to charismatic despots and fascistic opportunists.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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Ace Hunter Brown made two starts before succumbing to a shoulder strain and closer Josh Hader has not thrown a pitch in the majors this season.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
7 May 2026
Verb
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All artists submitting work live in California, and their art has been created within the last three years.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
14 May 2026
-
She was additionally found guilty of insurance fraud for taking out a $100,000 insurance policy on her husband's life with his forged signature and for submitting a claim following his death.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Wilson is zoned for the 9th District, which extends across most of the state’s southern border before curving up to encompass the largely white and affluent Nashville suburbs.—
Matt Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
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Wilson is zoned for the 9th District, which extends across most of the state’s southern border before curving up to encompass the largely white and affluent Nashville suburbs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 May 2026
Verb
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If something about the now-problematic gender-bending killer of Camp Miasma reminds you of 1983’s Sleepaway Camp, Schoenbrun is not coy about the parallel.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
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The galaxy's red and orange spiral arms bending outward can measure tens or even hundreds of light-years across.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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With bowed heads, friends and classmates wrapped their arms around each other.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
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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
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Eddie Howe’s side have also had a habit of switching off late, conceding a league-high 20 goals in the final 15 minutes this season.—
Sukhman Singh,
New York Times,
16 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.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Flow between arching and rounding your back to improve spinal mobility.—
Christopher Bergland,
Verywell Health,
11 May 2026
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The gracefully arching evergreen foliage is edged in golden yellow, perfect for brightening shady gardens or porch pots year-round.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowing. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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