as in bends
something that curves or is curved
her full lips form a pair of perfect bows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in succumbs
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 submits
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 curves
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 arches
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 bows
Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
At the spring 2026 collections last September and October, runway fantasies like bows and face paint seeped right off the runways and into the streets.
—Irene Kim, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2026
This mani has a mix of delicate black and blue bows contrasting with either an all-over white nail or a dainty French tip.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
Viktor Rolf decorated a denim jacket and jeans with denim bows.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 11 Mar. 2026
The Pomeranian wore pink bows and seemed very relaxed.
—Blair Braverman, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026
During that period, sales taxes would be lifted on select outdoor gear, including tents priced under $200 and fishing rods priced at $75 or less, along with firearms, ammunition, bows and crossbows.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
During that period, sales taxes would be lifted on select camping and fishing gear, including tents priced under $200 and fishing rods priced at $75 or less, along with firearms, ammunition, bows and crossbows.
—Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
In such a more-is-more approach, classic crisp white shirts and those with big bows popped up as the essential pieces to have in the closet.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 2 Mar. 2026
Marta Balaga, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Inside, surrounded by butter lamps and intricate iconography, even my skeptical husband bows before the Buddha.
—Shunali Khullar Shroff, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Nov. 2025
With her hand over her heart, the pair appear to have a heartfelt moment together, before each of them holds their hands together and bows toward each other in a traditional Thai gesture.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
He also is set to reprise his role in the upcoming sequel to Five Nights at Freddy’s, which bows next month.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 18 Nov. 2025
The final man, in a last-second protective reflex, bows his head and crosses his hands over it, but bullets send him flying backward, and the other militiamen join in, firing repeatedly at the dead bodies.
—Nicolas Niarchos, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
This Hulu series, which bows season five in September, brings together the lovable misfits of the Arcadia, a grand apartment building in New York City where way too many people get murdered.
—Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
His new film, The Christophers, which bows in Toronto’s Special Presentations section, was made entirely outside the system.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Confidence in the Fed's autonomy could take a blow if the Fed bows down to a president's demands without a sound basis.
—Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
Yet even this three-act work bows, at its center, to American zest.
—Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
At the spring 2026 collections last September and October, runway fantasies like bows and face paint seeped right off the runways and into the streets.
—Irene Kim, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2026
This mani has a mix of delicate black and blue bows contrasting with either an all-over white nail or a dainty French tip.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
Viktor Rolf decorated a denim jacket and jeans with denim bows.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 11 Mar. 2026
The Pomeranian wore pink bows and seemed very relaxed.
—Blair Braverman, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026
During that period, sales taxes would be lifted on select outdoor gear, including tents priced under $200 and fishing rods priced at $75 or less, along with firearms, ammunition, bows and crossbows.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
During that period, sales taxes would be lifted on select camping and fishing gear, including tents priced under $200 and fishing rods priced at $75 or less, along with firearms, ammunition, bows and crossbows.
—Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
In such a more-is-more approach, classic crisp white shirts and those with big bows popped up as the essential pieces to have in the closet.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
The film bows in Berlin’s Perspectives section.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Inside, surrounded by butter lamps and intricate iconography, even my skeptical husband bows before the Buddha.
—Shunali Khullar Shroff, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Nov. 2025
With her hand over her heart, the pair appear to have a heartfelt moment together, before each of them holds their hands together and bows toward each other in a traditional Thai gesture.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
He also is set to reprise his role in the upcoming sequel to Five Nights at Freddy’s, which bows next month.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 18 Nov. 2025
The final man, in a last-second protective reflex, bows his head and crosses his hands over it, but bullets send him flying backward, and the other militiamen join in, firing repeatedly at the dead bodies.
—Nicolas Niarchos, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
This Hulu series, which bows season five in September, brings together the lovable misfits of the Arcadia, a grand apartment building in New York City where way too many people get murdered.
—Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
His new film, The Christophers, which bows in Toronto’s Special Presentations section, was made entirely outside the system.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Confidence in the Fed's autonomy could take a blow if the Fed bows down to a president's demands without a sound basis.
—Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bows
Noun
-
As the temperature drops, the cold causes the protein to shift into a more stable state in which one of its key structural pillars bends sharply, breaks away from its neighbor and straightens out.—
Jacek Krywko,
Scientific American,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Mara Roszak used the ghd Chronos Curve Grand Iron to add some bends and worked a small amount of her Röz Evergreen Styling Cream through the ends to refine the shape and add soft definition.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Astrophysicist inspired by the Torah Vera Rubin, an astronomer whose observations of galaxy rotation curves in the 1970s provided the first robust evidence for dark matter’s existence, embraced her Jewish faith as a guide to understanding her role in the universe.—
Deepa Bharath,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
That carries across to the exterior, where aggressive styling has been eschewed in favor of long, horizontal lines and subtle curves.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Its outstanding appeal, grandish curvatures and extraordinary interior design are just the norm for the upscale interior brand.—
Marc D. Grasso,
Boston Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Posture Changes Spine curvatures can make standing up straight difficult, causing lower right back pain.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Miles and Ed are coming at the challenges of Mars-Earth relations and Marsie autonomy from totally different angles, and there are clearly fissures within SDM itself.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The concern is that the hammer lands on teams that are just bad, injured or rebuilding normally, while the truly motivated tankers simply learn the new angles.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The novel is by turns slapstick and sincere in its consideration of digital devices.—
Hannah Gold,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Pay special attention when making turns or driving through an intersection.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Northwest and southwest parts of the San Juan Mountains, Elkhead and Park Mountains, and the Flat Tops could get between 6 and 12 inches of snow and 45 mph winds from Tuesday afternoon, lasting until Wednesday evening.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Weather whiplash and climate change The same pattern that created the rain over Hawaii, and atmospheric rivers in the Pacific Northwest also brought high winds and snow storms and a variety of extremes to the eastern half of the United States during the month.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Jeep also reshaped the wheel arches for better clearance—a nice touch—with carbon flares.—
Caleb Jacobs,
The Drive,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The foyer has a step-up entry from the front door, which feels elegant, and the living room is spacious with lovely touches in every direction — notice the built-ins with the arches that bookend the fireplace.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
To him, the vision seemed right — not in the specific locations activated by various themes but in the sense that our neuroanatomy did seem to parse the world by subject, tangles and folds of neurons lighting up in response to clouds of ideas.—
Eric Boodman,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
-
At just 918 square feet, the house rejects sprawl entirely—the design stacks, overlaps, and folds in on itself.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bows. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
