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.
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Recent Examples of bows
Fred Bear, Outdoor Life, 11 June 2026
In this set, designs vary based on the size of the bowl; the larger size features a pattern of Hello Kitty's face, while the smaller size shows Hello Kitty surrounded by her iconic red bows.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2026
Launching Tuesday, the 23-piece capsule includes playful prints and timeless silhouettes in loungewear, ready-to-wear and pajamas for women, kids and infants, along with slippers, hair bows, backpacks and makeup bags.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
The arms of the late Queen Mother’s family, the Bowes-Lyons, feature bows and lions.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Wrap tops have earned a reputation as a coquette-girl favorite, but their styling potential extends far beyond bows and ballet flats.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 8 June 2026
In the first, players held purple school backpacks decorated with bows.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
From bows galore to bespoke embroidery, these are the trends to know from Dua and Callum’s wedding day.
—Rebecca Cope, Vogue, 8 June 2026
For many fishers in the region, hunting these fish down using compound bows and arrows have become a local sport — and the state of Maryland hopes that promoting bowfishing can help curb the growth of the population.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 19 June 2026
The series bows on aTwist in mid-August.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 June 2026
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
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
Noun
Surprisingly few know much about the killing power of hunting bows.
—Fred Bear, Outdoor Life, 11 June 2026
In this set, designs vary based on the size of the bowl; the larger size features a pattern of Hello Kitty's face, while the smaller size shows Hello Kitty surrounded by her iconic red bows.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2026
Launching Tuesday, the 23-piece capsule includes playful prints and timeless silhouettes in loungewear, ready-to-wear and pajamas for women, kids and infants, along with slippers, hair bows, backpacks and makeup bags.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
The arms of the late Queen Mother’s family, the Bowes-Lyons, feature bows and lions.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Wrap tops have earned a reputation as a coquette-girl favorite, but their styling potential extends far beyond bows and ballet flats.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 8 June 2026
In the first, players held purple school backpacks decorated with bows.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
From bows galore to bespoke embroidery, these are the trends to know from Dua and Callum’s wedding day.
—Rebecca Cope, Vogue, 8 June 2026
For many fishers in the region, hunting these fish down using compound bows and arrows have become a local sport — and the state of Maryland hopes that promoting bowfishing can help curb the growth of the population.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
Verb
Lillocci contributed to the design of Canali’s fall 2026 lineup but his first full collection in this new role bows for spring 2027, which will be unveiled in Milan on Sunday.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 19 June 2026
The series bows on aTwist in mid-August.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 June 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bows
Noun
-
Few officials have studied more carefully how the global energy system bends and buckles under pressure.—
Clay Chandler,
semafor.com,
19 June 2026
-
Nine goals for your country is not the tally of a player who transforms teams and bends tournaments to their will.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
If someone succumbs to the heat, promptly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
-
In season 3's closing stretch, Rue Bennett (Zendaya) succumbs to an accidental fentanyl overdose.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
If a recruiter submits your application to a company with a short positioning note (as mentioned above by Xavier Roux), having prepared a cover letter will help the recruiter capture the most important highlights of your background.—
Caroline Ceniza-Levine,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
But Jennifer Woodruff, a spokeswoman for CU Denver, said those figures will change when the university system submits a new application later this week.—
Thomas Gounley,
Denver Post,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Phoebe Philo’s version, a backless white tank with a dramatic ruffle that curves across the waist and up the shoulder blades transforms the silhouette into an avant-garde sculpture.—
Diana Tsui,
Footwear News,
15 June 2026
-
About half a mile from the high school, the road curves to the left.—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Smith arches over the patient, his body an umbrella to protect the wound.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
-
The protective netting that arches over so many of the roads in the eastern Donbas region – stopping drones in their tracks – is not your friend here, but a limitation on movement.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
There are hardly any flat architectural surfaces, and NAUSICAÄ is shaped by curvatures and louvred details.—
Bill Springer,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The ayatollahs won’t make any deal that surrenders their nuclear program.—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
22 May 2026
-
Alex Murdaugh surrenders Murdaugh turned himself in at the Hampton County Detention Center.—
Marlene Lenthang,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Armour hooks my arm, and the panic abates.—
Adam Erace,
Fortune,
24 May 2026
-
Marketing experts say while more and more cash is flowing into the clip-ification of all things, those watching the content can view clips as cheap and disposable moments, not something that hooks someone on a show or internet personality.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bows. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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