as in curved
marked by a long series of irregular curves
the river takes a long bending path to the sea
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in arching
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 devoting
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 aiming
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 curving
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 distorting
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 attaching
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.
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Recent Examples of bending
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
7 July 2026
For much of her decades-long career, Madonna has been known as not only a genre-bending talent and headline-grabber, but also a certified hitmaker.
—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
Today, the trend is decidedly bending toward low-Earth orbit with megaconstellations like Starlink.
—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
3 July 2026
Modern roads tend to cut their routes in straight or slowly bending lines.
—
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 July 2026
The twisty theme means competitions are inspired by iconic moments from history and from the show’s history, with time-bending elements that will directly impact the game.
—
Rachel Desantis,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
What made jazz so distinct was the freedom embedded into its structure, with musicians improvising, trading solos and bending notes together.
—
Abraham Swee,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
Cookware can warp after being exposed to high heat, bending the metal out of shape.
—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
26 June 2026
Well, as the group stage reaches its final days, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle called the NFL out for ignoring players' requests but bending the knee to FIFA.
—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
Verb
Leandro Trossard got the assist, bending a perfect back-post cross from the end line to his waiting teammate.
—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
7 July 2026
For much of her decades-long career, Madonna has been known as not only a genre-bending talent and headline-grabber, but also a certified hitmaker.
—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
Today, the trend is decidedly bending toward low-Earth orbit with megaconstellations like Starlink.
—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
3 July 2026
Modern roads tend to cut their routes in straight or slowly bending lines.
—
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 July 2026
The twisty theme means competitions are inspired by iconic moments from history and from the show’s history, with time-bending elements that will directly impact the game.
—
Rachel Desantis,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
What made jazz so distinct was the freedom embedded into its structure, with musicians improvising, trading solos and bending notes together.
—
Abraham Swee,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
Cookware can warp after being exposed to high heat, bending the metal out of shape.
—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
26 June 2026
Well, as the group stage reaches its final days, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle called the NFL out for ignoring players' requests but bending the knee to FIFA.
—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bending
Adjective
-
Using original photographs, and input from the Pourtout archives, the restoration team reversed the ungainly Saoutchik body modifications, and the curved windshield and twin rear-window design returned.
-
Flat composite panels transform into curved blades The new method uses 4D printing, which means materials can change shape after they are made.
Verb
-
Pay Attention to Plant Form Plants come in a wide range of shapes, from arching to columnar to spreading.
-
Lower back discomfort or tightness might be due to arching of your back, or your back muscles tacking on too much of the work to overcompensate for a lack of hip strength or control.
Verb
-
Every board meeting is devoting a significant amount of time to the succession question, the source said.
-
While his once-promising political career was over, Profumo earned a measure of redemption by devoting the rest of his life to charitable work and in being named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1975.
Verb
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Topping has unveiled the DX1 II, an affordable DAC and headphone amplifier aiming to bring warm, detailed hi-fi sound to digital music for under $150.
-
The president signed his directive aiming to restrict birthright citizenship on his first day back in the White House as part of a sweeping crackdown on immigration.
Verb
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His update on the C-cut began just below the chin, with extra lift at the roots and inward-curving lengths that narrowed toward the ends to create the illusion of a heart.
-
Nusa scored a beautiful goal after curving a shot into the top right corner, just past the arms of Fofana to give Norway a 1-0 lead.
Verb
-
Weil writes of attention as a way of engaging with the world without the distorting lens of the ego.
-
The orchid doubles in her view, the room around her distorting.
Verb
-
By attaching protein tags to a cell membrane, the synthetic biologist Reinhard Lipowsky at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces attracted other proteins to crowd around and physically bend the membrane, forcing the cell to divide.
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In general, the process works by first anesthetizing the insect and then attaching electrodes to its brain and sensory organs.
Adjective
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But what once looked like a potential breakout career in San Francisco has instead become a winding journey through multiple organizations, with the latest chapter ending after a short stay in the Dodgers' system.
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As such, the show takes you on a winding journey of France’s influential craftsmanship and its impact on America via archival looks, dazzling objects, and more modern creations.
Cite this Entry
“Bending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bending. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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