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
Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
From understated, everyday clips to bold, eye-catching bows, the right barrette can effortlessly elevate your style.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 6 Jan. 2026
These tulips are the star of the show, but are perfectly paired with bows, stars, and polka dots.
—Odeya Pinkus, InStyle, 2 Jan. 2026
Neat bows are tied — though at least one has been left loose in hopes, according to my own predictive analysis, of a second season.
—Robert Lloyd, Twin Cities, 30 Dec. 2025
Hang it on your front door as-is for a minimalist look, or dress it up for the winter season by adding your own bows, flowers, and pinecones.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2025
Adding a feminine touch to chunky knits, oversized bows can be a fun, exaggerated addition, like on this Wayf Sloane Bow Cardigan.
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 11 Nov. 2025
The runway placed bows and soft ruching against precise suiting; Olsen’s look follows that brief almost literally.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 9 Nov. 2025
Really, who wouldn’t want to see a battle between bows and arrows and a hyper-advanced alien species with a penchant for trophy hunting?
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025
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
The live-action film starring Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes and Idris Elba bows June 5, distributed by Amazon MGM Studios.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 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
The president’s bows were aloof and stiff.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
From understated, everyday clips to bold, eye-catching bows, the right barrette can effortlessly elevate your style.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 6 Jan. 2026
These tulips are the star of the show, but are perfectly paired with bows, stars, and polka dots.
—Odeya Pinkus, InStyle, 2 Jan. 2026
Neat bows are tied — though at least one has been left loose in hopes, according to my own predictive analysis, of a second season.
—Robert Lloyd, Twin Cities, 30 Dec. 2025
Hang it on your front door as-is for a minimalist look, or dress it up for the winter season by adding your own bows, flowers, and pinecones.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2025
Adding a feminine touch to chunky knits, oversized bows can be a fun, exaggerated addition, like on this Wayf Sloane Bow Cardigan.
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 11 Nov. 2025
The runway placed bows and soft ruching against precise suiting; Olsen’s look follows that brief almost literally.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 9 Nov. 2025
Really, who wouldn’t want to see a battle between bows and arrows and a hyper-advanced alien species with a penchant for trophy hunting?
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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
The live-action film starring Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes and Idris Elba bows June 5, distributed by Amazon MGM Studios.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 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
-
Luckily, a side effect of knuckle cracking is not the bends—or even a case of arthritis.—
Sarah Lindenfeld Hall,
Popular Science,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Brunette run through with warm bands of chestnut is a toasty, pretty aesthetic, particularly when paired with beachy bends.—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
It’s attached to a flexible rod that can bend to pass through kinks and curves in dryer hoses.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The Cowboy Coaster takes you on a nearly mile-long journey of curves, loops, and sharp turns, reaching nearly 30 miles per hour.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Jan. 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
-
To our minds, Wednesday's horror, those kids who lost a mother, should supplant the inevitable circling of the ideological wagons and the parsing of the different angles of pictures taken at the scene.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Footage from multiple angles showed the vehicle did not come into contact with Ross, who fired multiple times at Good’s windshield.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The twists and turns since have exacerbated uncertainty for the nearly 1 in 8 Americans who receive monthly SNAP benefits to spend at grocery stores and farmer’s markets.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The couple and another teen riding with the girl snapped into action and reached over to grab onto her for the duration of the ride, each bracing hard against the car as the ride zoomed at highway speeds through its hills, drops and turns.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Sustained, strong winds are possible.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Gusty winds were also expected Friday that could cause blowing snow and visibility issues on Interstate 70 east of Denver, Bonner said.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Housed in an early 20th-century former bank at 469 North Canon Drive, the boutique preserves its original architectural detailing, arches and columns, lending itself to Casablanca’s signature design DNA.—
Ryma Chikhoune,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
-
So, when the popular fast-food chain wanted to open a restaurant there, the city said no to the signature yellow arches.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The reversible Nancy boot in black and brown suede, which features a soft, turn-up upper that folds over the entire boot.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Crow’s feet, under-eye wrinkles, nasolabial folds, and cheek folds, among others, were all reduced after 12 weeks, while skin texture overall appears more smooth and glass-like.—
Kathleen Baird-Murray,
Vogue,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bows. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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