bent 1 of 3

chiefly British

bent

2 of 3

noun

bent

3 of 3

verb

past tense of bend
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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun bent differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bent are aptitude, faculty, genius, gift, knack, and talent. While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

When would aptitude be a good substitute for bent?

While the synonyms aptitude and bent are close in meaning, aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

When is faculty a more appropriate choice than bent?

The synonyms faculty and bent are sometimes interchangeable, but faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

In what contexts can genius take the place of bent?

Although the words genius and bent have much in common, genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

When might gift be a better fit than bent?

The words gift and bent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

Where would knack be a reasonable alternative to bent?

In some situations, the words knack and bent are roughly equivalent. However, knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

When is it sensible to use talent instead of bent?

The meanings of talent and bent largely overlap; however, talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

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
Adjective
The president seems bent on taking America back to that pre-World War I era of peace, prosperity, national pride, and the American ascendancy. Robert W. Merry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025 Germany’s far right To make matters worse, as Merz recognized, Trump’s team seems bent on pressing Merz to bring the AfD into a governing coalition. Trudy Rubin, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
Although these Islamists were linked to al-Qaeda in an earlier incarnation and have an ultra-conservative bent, the HTS as a result of its experience working in coalition and administering its sections of Idlib province. John Feffer, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024 Early court wins may be temporary The increasingly conservative bent of higher-tier judges doesn’t mean that Trump will win every case that makes it to the Supreme Court or lose every challenge at the district court. Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bent
Adjective
  • Tampa Bay is one of the most crooked places in America, according to fraud report data from the Federal Trade Commission.
    Martin Vassolo, Axios, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Talley also said the pathway of the bullet as the pathologist in the case testified disproves any legal theory that Ferguson’s arm was crooked at a 45-degree angle.
    Hetty Chang, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • This inherent human tendency, which already harms people and society in an analog setting, is exacerbated by the circumstances of today's world.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • It's thought that morning people act with more awareness because of their tendency to sleep better and have less fatigue or inattention.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Even so, Australia has a knack for coming out of a ho-hum kind of day nicely, and the team is in second place, three points back from Canada.
    Andrew Rice, The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The 17-year-old, who goes by Chris, has a knack for electronic systems and computers.
    The Star, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Yale University has no explicit policy on AI and college essays, but the admissions office devoted an entire podcast to the subject.
    Brad Tuttle, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2025
  • At the top of those stairs, team officials devoted an entire lounge to the dogs, including a pet relief station equipped with artificial grass.
    Josh Robbins, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average, with a trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 27, and the S&P 500 Index’s P/E at 24, are both distorted by tech stocks, such as Nvidia (NVDA).
    Lawrence Carrel, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Has that distorted the trajectory of his adult life?
    Cressida Leyshon, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The suspects then loaded the ATM onto a trailer attached to a U-Haul box truck and fled the area, authorities said.
    Maggie Ybarra, Baltimore Sun, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Both phrases entered the 2024 pop culture lexicon, with memes and short form video trends attached.
    Meghan Mahar, Billboard, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Stricter consumer protection laws worldwide mean businesses face mounting scrutiny and potential legal repercussions for deceptive claims.
    Anjali Chaudhry, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Issues concerning the scheme arise when the business utilizing it sells the data of consumers without proper consent or for deceptive purposes, as this could violate laws, the company said.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • But several other populist Trump allies who have shown no inclination to leave power have made their judiciaries a central target.
    Graham Underwood, arkansasonline.com, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The report cites a growing consumer inclination toward advanced lip care solutions, and effective alternatives to traditional lip balms and glosses.
    Dahvi Shira, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bent. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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