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

Examples 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
Over time, some of those early rules got bent or broken. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 24 Nov. 2024 The list of nominees for the 67th Grammy Awards' 94 categories can be applauded for its undeniable diversity, with pop, country and hip-hop artists crisscrossing categories and solidifying the notion that genre boundaries can be bent. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
While the justices may look favorably on boosting government efficiency, their conservative bent would likely not outweigh their obligation to the law, Bagley said. Ella Lee, The Hill, 23 Nov. 2024 On one hand, this season’s political bent should not be surprising. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bent 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bent
Adjective
  • The pardon was a political bombshell that Republicans have used to further President-elect Donald Trump's claims that the Justice Department has been weaponized against him and that the Biden family has been crooked for years.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024
  • Caravans of cars traveled from Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Virginia and Ohio to clinics here, loading up on pills and prescriptions from crooked doctors selling their prescription pads to anyone with so much as a hangnail.
    Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The High Performer's Dilemma: A Focus on Gaps High achievers, particularly perfectionists, thrive on results and continuous improvement, which can lead to a tendency to dwell too long on shortcomings.
    Luciana Paulise, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Over his years on Days, Clyde committed murder, rape, and blackmail, displayed both homophobic and misogynistic tendencies, was thrown in and busted out of prison, and ran a drug ring.
    Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Like Floyd, Mangione may also have a knack for the myth-building flourish.
    Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024
  • These choices are testament to Osei’s uncanny knack for spotting new rising stars— Jellyfish and Lobster is now in consideration for an Oscar and the film is available to view in the Academy screening room.
    Nina-Sophia Miralles, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Each surgeon devoted their career to their portion.
    Kevin Kruse, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Game and Fish recently devoted an entire division's focus to recreational shooting, which includes archery, competitive shotgun shooting and shooting range development.
    Arkansas Game and Fish, arkansasonline.com, 22 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Some carmakers, especially for electric vehicles, are cutting AM from their offerings, claiming the signal is distorted by the power system.
    Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Dec. 2024
  • Listen closer, and the harpsichord is actually a guitar riff, distorted like many of the other instruments on Only God Was Above Us.
    Alex Suskind, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • While sitting bundled up in a chair, Lefebvre wore large sunglasses with a paper plate filled with birdseed attached and waited for her first visitor.
    Rachael O'Connor, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Though a director is not yet attached, the film will be penned by franchise scribe John Hamburg.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Lilly has sent cease-and-desist letters to numerous compounding sellers, and both companies have filed lawsuits against numerous compounding pharmacies, alleging trademark infringement and deceptive marketing.
    Bob Woods, CNBC, 8 Dec. 2024
  • Yes, but: Brandi Tuck, executive director of the nonprofit Path Home, has been working with homeless families for nearly two decades and says those numbers are likely deceptive undercounts.
    Kale Williams, Axios, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Credit card rewards function as a tax on those without credit cards and those with credit cards but without the ability or inclination to keep up with the panoply of options.
    David G.W. Birch, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Hegseth himself has not shown any inclination toward a withdrawal.
    Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 15 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near bent

Cite this Entry

“Bent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bent. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on bent

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