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
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
24 June 2026
Skip fake florals, door bows, and chimes, which can look cheap or annoy neighbors.
—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
23 June 2026
Matching shirts, bows and pompoms now accompany performances, lunchtime discussions and a sense of belonging.
—
Arkansas Online,
21 June 2026
Filling a National Battle Depot with spare parts (or even spare modules--like a few spare bows or bow domes for Virginia Class submarines) will force the PAEs to really exercise their new authorities.
—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
There were turbans and headscarves and oversized hair bows, and a young boy wearing a crown made from red, black and yellow paper, the colors representing Black history month.
—
Mary Carole McCauley,
Baltimore Sun,
20 June 2026
In Txuiri village, children play with bows and arrows near a Protestant church.
—
ABC News,
19 June 2026
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
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
24 June 2026
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
Noun
The heels feature translucent PVC material with tiny grosgrain ribbon bows in black, an open toe, and a snap closure ankle strap.
—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
24 June 2026
Skip fake florals, door bows, and chimes, which can look cheap or annoy neighbors.
—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
23 June 2026
Matching shirts, bows and pompoms now accompany performances, lunchtime discussions and a sense of belonging.
—
Arkansas Online,
21 June 2026
Filling a National Battle Depot with spare parts (or even spare modules--like a few spare bows or bow domes for Virginia Class submarines) will force the PAEs to really exercise their new authorities.
—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
There were turbans and headscarves and oversized hair bows, and a young boy wearing a crown made from red, black and yellow paper, the colors representing Black history month.
—
Mary Carole McCauley,
Baltimore Sun,
20 June 2026
In Txuiri village, children play with bows and arrows near a Protestant church.
—
ABC News,
19 June 2026
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
Verb
President Curtis bows on Adult Swim July 26.
—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
24 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bows
Noun
-
Despite Iran’s threats, 20 of those ships had taken a route far south of Iran that hugs the coastline of the United Arab Emirates and bends along Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, avoiding Iranian waters.
-
Follow with 5–10 side bends per side, reaching toward your knee while keeping your movements slow and controlled.
Verb
-
If someone succumbs to the heat, promptly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.
-
In season 3's closing stretch, Rue Bennett (Zendaya) succumbs to an accidental fentanyl overdose.
Verb
-
Michaels adamantly submits that the answer is not submission in silence but a strong determination to fight for a party that once stood for America’s vision of liberty and justice for all, regardless of race or religion.
-
The Traitors submits itself for writing.
Verb
-
Tumon Bay, the island’s main resort district, curves in a sweep of gorgeous waters backed by limestone cliffs and a skyline of hotels that reflect Guam’s long‑standing popularity with Japanese and Korean travelers.
-
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.
Verb
-
Smith arches over the patient, his body an umbrella to protect the wound.
-
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.
Noun
-
There are hardly any flat architectural surfaces, and NAUSICAÄ is shaped by curvatures and louvred details.
-
Its outstanding appeal, grandish curvatures and extraordinary interior design are just the norm for the upscale interior brand.
Verb
-
The ayatollahs won’t make any deal that surrenders their nuclear program.
-
Alex Murdaugh surrenders Murdaugh turned himself in at the Hampton County Detention Center.
Verb
-
Armour hooks my arm, and the panic abates.
-
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.
Cite this Entry
“Bows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bows. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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