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
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Recent Examples of bows
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 6 May 2026
There were also shots of the Funny Girl star standing alone, as well as some of a white cake with pink bows all around.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
The 21-year-old goalkeeper, who takes his last name from the Mura people of his birth, left his headdresses and bows behind to play for Originarios, a new soccer club in Rio’s fifth division that is mainly for players under the age of 23.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Families pile in with kids decked out in their Sunday best — bows in their hair, fluffy dresses, cowlicks gelled down.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Instead of bearing fishing poles, most have Soviet-era heavy machine guns bolted to their bows with a small rocket launcher atop.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
One daughter gives an electric grin, framed underneath two green hair bows.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
The black headphones feature two attachable black bows and an ear cushion embellished with symbols inspired by the singer’s music.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026
This sweet peplum blouse features three front ties that can be styled into bows, short puff sleeves, and is available in black and a cheetah print as well.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 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
Small blue bows were added to the bodice of the dress and at the waist, cascading in bunches.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 6 May 2026
There were also shots of the Funny Girl star standing alone, as well as some of a white cake with pink bows all around.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
The 21-year-old goalkeeper, who takes his last name from the Mura people of his birth, left his headdresses and bows behind to play for Originarios, a new soccer club in Rio’s fifth division that is mainly for players under the age of 23.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Families pile in with kids decked out in their Sunday best — bows in their hair, fluffy dresses, cowlicks gelled down.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Instead of bearing fishing poles, most have Soviet-era heavy machine guns bolted to their bows with a small rocket launcher atop.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
One daughter gives an electric grin, framed underneath two green hair bows.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
The black headphones feature two attachable black bows and an ear cushion embellished with symbols inspired by the singer’s music.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026
This sweet peplum blouse features three front ties that can be styled into bows, short puff sleeves, and is available in black and a cheetah print as well.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 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
-
The ride travels on an elliptical track and whips riders around bends.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
The fjord bends, combined with the ship being far enough away and in deep water, were key factors that saved them.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
With a pour of salsa roja, tart and hot (but not overly so), or a more judicious application of the punishingly spicy salsa verde, the bean and cheese transforms into a kinetic flavor field of curves and spikes.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
-
Hermès approached the issue with a minimal execution inspired by urban buildings instead of the more-baroque curves often found in this style.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
3 May 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
-
If this were an American show, the gears would already be grinding, camera angles snapping into place, and the story would be halfway to becoming gospel before anyone had time to blink.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
7 May 2026
-
Stand-in actors take the place of the principal actor as the crew adjusts camera angles and lighting setups.—
Brayden Garcia
May 7,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The main musical attractions were the B-52s, Devo, Danny Elfman and Puddles Pity Party, taking turns fronting a 10-piece big band led by Mark Mothersbaugh — and with Fred Armisen on drums — that nimbly navigated between exotica and some fairly fierce garage-rock.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
7 May 2026
-
Its policy rhetoric has taken dozens of twists and turns.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Strong southwest winds and dry conditions are expected to contribute to blowing dust in agricultural areas south of Chicago.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
In highly populated areas, people tend to spot and call in fires pretty quickly, and the tech is not so useful when extreme weather events, such as hurricane-force winds, intensify and rapidly shift the flames, as happened in Los Angeles last year.—
Dorany Pineda,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
As a national icon, the Natural Bridge served as a quiet, Emersonian rebuke to Europe’s militaristic triumphal arches, reinforcing the naturalness of American democracy.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The cork-latex footbed is great for supporting arches and alignment, and the adjustable strap is helpful for those with bunions or hammer toes.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Everyone else finds out somewhere around week three of escrow and either scrambles or folds.—
Blake O'Shaughnessy,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
-
While tools like AlphaFold can predict how a single protein folds — a breakthrough of the last five years — biology operates at much larger scales.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bows. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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