as in crooked
given to or marked by cheating and deception
the drug dealer knew which of the cops were bent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in tendency
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
the perfect gift for a person of a literary bent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in knack
a special and usually inborn ability
having a decided bent for languages, he picked up Italian in no time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in arched
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in devoted
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 aimed
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
as in curved
to turn away from a straight line or course
the stream bends slightly to the east
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in distorted
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 attached
to cause (something) to hold to another
bend a leash to the dog's collar
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 bent
Pete Sampson, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
But Sammie’s song also unwittingly beckons sinister interlopers all the way from North Carolina, bent on making that freedom short-lived.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
Sharon Edelson, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
The 26-year-old bent over and pumped his fists multiple times when the win was confirmed, finishing on a 20-under 260 after four rounds, breaking the tournament record by four shots.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bent
Adjective
The sophomore is listed at 231 pounds but bent physics to his will, blowing up Kevin Bauman (260 pounds) and Joe Otting (297 pounds).
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
But Sammie’s song also unwittingly beckons sinister interlopers all the way from North Carolina, bent on making that freedom short-lived.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
Besides the hyper local bent, there’s more fashion and lifestyle products than the store offered in the past.
—Sharon Edelson, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
The 26-year-old bent over and pumped his fists multiple times when the win was confirmed, finishing on a 20-under 260 after four rounds, breaking the tournament record by four shots.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bent
Adjective
-
In the new season’s third episode, Charlie helps Beatrix solve the murder of her husband Jeffrey (Richard Kind) by crooked FBI agent Danny (John Mulaney), and in return, Beatrix agrees to call off the hit.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
9 May 2025
-
But that jubilation quickly turns into a night of violence when Coop is beaten within an inch of his life by two guys hired by a crooked art gallery owner who put overly aggressive moves on his partner in crime Elena (Aimee Carrero).—
Rosemary Rossi,
Variety,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
Providing learning opportunities to help team members understand their natural tendencies and work styles, along with facilitated workshops, can support trust-building and foster more effective collaboration and a thriving culture.—
Kerri Sutey,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Their nastiness and tendency to cross the line showed up a couple of hours earlier.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
So often during their rise to becoming one of the NHL’s top teams during the past few years, the Florida Panthers have shown a knack for rallying late.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Michelle Gage Interiors has a knack for breathing new life into historic homes, including a 1787 farmhouse in New Jersey and an 1800s town house in Rittenhouse Square.—
Dan Howarth,
Architectural Digest,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Brown devoted Wednesdays to mobility and conditioning after years of just incorporating it into his daily workouts.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The special section of Art Bulletin—which, as the discipline’s flagship journal, constitutes a semiofficial statement about AI’s importance in the field—devoted the majority of its space to critical commentary about the application of computer vision to works of art.—
Sonja Drimmer,
Artforum,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
An immigration surge prior to last year’s homeless count likely distorted the picture of homelessness in the country, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis of research by University of Pennsylvania professor Dennis Culhane, a leading national expert on homelessness.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
-
But the excitement over defeating the evil scientists and saving the damsel is distorted by the sound of Gemma’s distressed cries.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Murillo’s name has been attached to that song since his first few months in Nottingham and one game in particular when West Ham United were the opposition at the City Ground.—
Daniel Taylor,
The Athletic,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Initial experimental validation of the concept Electrodes were attached, and the experiment began in complete darkness, eliminating potential photoelectric interference.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In the 1970s, information about the Tuskegee study – a deceptive and unethical 40-year study of untreated syphilis in Black men – came to light.—
Christine Coughlin,
The Conversation,
9 May 2025
-
Anyone wanting to fight such usage would have to rely on deceptive practice laws, trademark and copyright protection, and state-specific laws protecting a person's name, image, and likeness.—
Neil J. Rubenking,
PC Magazine,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
Australia’s giant kangaroos of yesteryear were likely homebodies — and that inclination ultimately did them in.—
Paul Smaglik,
Discover Magazine,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Even if both premises are correct—that Putin has Hitlerian inclinations and wants to expand into eastern Europe—Western societies may struggle to mobilize the requisite political will and economic resources to contend with the threat.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bent. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share