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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bowing
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
The company has previously rejected the court’s ruling and the Chinese government has accused Panama’s government of bowing to United States pressure.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
And there was certainly no sign any of the gubernatorial candidates plan to give up, bowing to concerns their large number could divide the Democratic vote and allow a pair of Republicans to slip through and emerge from California’s top-two primary.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
And there was certainly no sign any of the gubernatorial candidates plan to give up, bowing to concerns their large number could divide the Democratic vote and allow a pair of Republicans to slip through and emerge from California’s top-two primary.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
For its inaugural issue bowing in Saturday, the magazine tapped Naomi Campbell as cover star.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 14 Feb. 2026
Any vulnerable Republicans who does not vote in favor of tariff repeals will be hammered for bowing to Trump on an unpopular policy.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
Grow a backbone, quit bowing down.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Young Americans, often skeptical of institutions at home, seem surprisingly comfortable with Japan’s dense web of social expectations, from bowing to sorting trash into multiple categories.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
The film, which premiered at Sundance, will have a spring community screening tour and summer theatrical release before bowing on PBS in fall 2026.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
The company has previously rejected the court’s ruling and the Chinese government has accused Panama’s government of bowing to United States pressure.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
And there was certainly no sign any of the gubernatorial candidates plan to give up, bowing to concerns their large number could divide the Democratic vote and allow a pair of Republicans to slip through and emerge from California’s top-two primary.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
And there was certainly no sign any of the gubernatorial candidates plan to give up, bowing to concerns their large number could divide the Democratic vote and allow a pair of Republicans to slip through and emerge from California’s top-two primary.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
For its inaugural issue bowing in Saturday, the magazine tapped Naomi Campbell as cover star.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 14 Feb. 2026
Any vulnerable Republicans who does not vote in favor of tariff repeals will be hammered for bowing to Trump on an unpopular policy.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
Grow a backbone, quit bowing down.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Young Americans, often skeptical of institutions at home, seem surprisingly comfortable with Japan’s dense web of social expectations, from bowing to sorting trash into multiple categories.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Feb. 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
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
Adjective
-
And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Bowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowing. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
