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
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
Those taking their bows later, for the principal parts, are seen only by the first rows and the very tall!
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
The classic ballet flats have a rounded toe and cute bows at the top.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
Frances rounded out the group in a bubblegum pink tweed frock studded with bows and white Mary Jane shoes.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
Keep feet cozy and warm with plush slippers, cozy pajama sets, quick dry towels, velvet hair bows and more.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
At the end of the night, during the bows, Butler slaps the guys playing her two antagonists gently on their butts, a gesture that would have jarred in most stagings but fully in keeping with the inclusive, humanistic vibe of this production.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Wearing a cornflower suit with polka dots and bows, the NHS pediatric nurse took center stage at the Easter service in Windsor alongside her fiancé, Peter Phillips.
—Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 6 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
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
Those taking their bows later, for the principal parts, are seen only by the first rows and the very tall!
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
The classic ballet flats have a rounded toe and cute bows at the top.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
Frances rounded out the group in a bubblegum pink tweed frock studded with bows and white Mary Jane shoes.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
Keep feet cozy and warm with plush slippers, cozy pajama sets, quick dry towels, velvet hair bows and more.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
At the end of the night, during the bows, Butler slaps the guys playing her two antagonists gently on their butts, a gesture that would have jarred in most stagings but fully in keeping with the inclusive, humanistic vibe of this production.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Wearing a cornflower suit with polka dots and bows, the NHS pediatric nurse took center stage at the Easter service in Windsor alongside her fiancé, Peter Phillips.
—Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 6 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
-
Grief lives most vibrantly in the periods where your life stretches and bends, the loss constant while life propels forward.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Apr. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Determined to keep a similar scenario from playing out again, organizations everywhere are rolling out new algorithms to replace RSA and elliptic curves.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Made of metal and hand-blown glass, this lamp is the place where angles meet curves — a timeless piece with a healthy dose of edge.—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 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
-
Mahesh’s discography has evolved as a series of experiments, building out her sound from new angles without quite consolidating her full range.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
24 Apr. 2026
-
With that being said, here’s a scenario that’d make sense from multiple angles.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
More than four years after the team publicly floated the idea of downtown baseball, the project has been defined more by its twists and turns than its resolutions — and included explorations outside downtown and even in Kansas.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Ehrmann says the problem isn’t just limited to tilt-and-turns but comes up in all kinds of architectural projects that have irregularly shaped windows.—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The road to Quinta do Pinheiro winds through orchards and open pastures along Portugal’s southern coast, narrowing to little more than a dusty track.—
Christine Chitnis,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Expect east winds of about 16 mph.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Raphael arranges more than forty bodies across at least five centers of action, using all kinds of columns, arches, stairs, and loggias to visually slice and dice the space for narrative ease.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The installation will also include tables in wood and yellow lacquer with bases recalling the silhouette of the Colonia bottle, paired with metal chairs shaped with arches that echo the brand’s retail codes.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The open folds and freeform shape make this dessert more approachable for some folks.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The Nomadix Festival Blanket is amply sized for a full Cape Town itinerary, but folds to the size of a coffee table book.—
Abbey Hudetz,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bows. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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