1
as in to arch
to cause to turn away from a straight line
she bent the blade of the knife when she got it jammed in the drawer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to devote
to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention
bent herself to the task for the rest of the day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
bent all of his efforts toward making his first documentary film
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in to distort
to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of
attorneys bending the facts to put their client in the most favorable light
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to attach
to cause (something) to hold to another
bend a leash to the dog's collar
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in curvature
something that curves or is curved
it's hard to see around that bend in the road, so be careful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bend
Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 21 Apr. 2025
The administration is offering a host of excuses to obscure its real motive: to subdue American universities and bend them to their will.
—Dr. David M. Sack, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 18 Mar. 2025
The heaviest bend would have come immediately after the hook set, which never occurs (maybe Quint liked circle hooks).
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bend
Verb
Past photos have shown the R&B global star bending fans over, picking them up and even giving them kisses on the cheek.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 21 Apr. 2025
The administration is offering a host of excuses to obscure its real motive: to subdue American universities and bend them to their will.
—Dr. David M. Sack, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
In comparison, physicists better understand the inner workings of the human eye, particularly in terms of how light passes into the eye, bends, and then converts into electrical impulses that supply the brain with information.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 18 Mar. 2025
The heaviest bend would have come immediately after the hook set, which never occurs (maybe Quint liked circle hooks).
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bend
Verb
-
The kitchen has arched steels windows and a Lacanche range.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
21 Apr. 2025
-
In the bottom of the first inning on Opening Day 2023, Aaron Judge clobbered a high, arching narrative over the center-field wall, and that was it.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The key to successfully bringing family into the C-suite is devoting time and training them and moving each of them up over time.—
Ray Titus,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
-
The Beavers appear more willing to devote every dollar possible to winning on the field during the Pac-12's transition.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
And in recent months Silva has doubled down on work with her counterpart in the finance ministry on a $125 billion fund aimed at protecting tropical forests around the world.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
9 May 2025
-
Talks likely aimed at deescalation, not a deal While no breakthrough — and certainly no trade deal — is expected, the meetings are widely seen as a first step toward cooling trade tensions.—
Shannon Carroll,
Quartz,
9 May 2025
Verb
-
The glass lobby curves around this view and outside is a huge pool deck with bar and lost of open-air seating.—
Larry Olmsted,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Highlights in the Land of Enchantment include curving through Apache Canyon, sidling along the red sandstone cliffs near Gallup, and marveling at the barren lava fields of El Malpais National Monument and National Conservation Area.—
Ellen Carpenter,
AFAR Media,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
What’s reflected may still be distorted, but at least the mirror is now a little less foggy.—
Diana Spehar,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
-
By distorting Judaism to minimize, or even erase, the Jewish connection to Israel, JVP seeks to undermine one of the most sacred tenets of our faith and identity.—
Chai Posner,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
From that point on, they've been practically attached at the hip, often dressing alike and taking in Broadway musicals.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
4 May 2025
-
Bullock, Reeves, Oppenheim, Mark Gordon, Bibby Dunn, and Sarah Bremner are attached as producers.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
The curvatures and sleekness of the XC60 are unlike no other SUV in today’s market.—
Marc D. Grasso,
Boston Herald,
8 May 2025
-
Photograph: Kieran Alger Recent shoes, like the Adidas Adios Pro 4, have experimented with the position and curvature—or the rockering—of the midsoles in a bid to roll runners into a more efficient gait.—
Kieran Alger,
Wired News,
7 May 2025
Noun
-
Martin: Turning to some specific conflicts, there are European leaders, both publicly and privately, that have expressed some shock at what seems to be an American tilt toward Russia in these negotiations over the war in Ukraine.—
Michel Martin,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2025
-
The tilt towards Spanberger may be a product of greater name recognition, Keena said, and with several months to go, the door is open for either candidate.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bend. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share