BOWED OUT Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

bowed out

verb

past tense of bow out

as in fell

to undergo defeat quite embarrassingly, the top-seeded player bowed out in the first round of competition

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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 bowed out In the shadow on the ground, your back bowed out unflatteringly, like a peasant’s hump. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026 Harrison compared Becerra’s campaign to Biden’s in 2024 before the then-president bowed out of the race. — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 The show will have a new host (Trevor Noah bowed out after six years) and will air/stream on new network platforms — ABC, Disney+ and Hulu — after the show ended a 54-year run on CBS. — Paul Grein, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026 But Netflix bowed out after Paramount eventually upped its offer to buy all of Warner for $31 per share. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 On Wednesday the Sox advanced to the American League Division Series with a 7-3 win over the Houston Astros in their wild-card series, about three hours before the Cubs bowed out of their wild-card series with a 4-1 loss to the San Diego Padres. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026 However, when Damon bowed out to star in The Odyssey, Affleck took over the role and, well, that’s where Garner drew the line. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2026 There is no offseason from a city’s and a fanbase’s obsession, but last season has long been over, a fact that coach Ben Johnson has belabored since his team bowed out of the playoffs on an overtime field goal last January. — Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026 No Met honoree has ever bowed out before, nor has any pre-announced theme been canceled. — Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowed out

Verb

Griess, the superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, said the 430 trees that were felled were not identified as hazardous or raising safety concerns.

— Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026
Yet trees that took a millennium to grow can be felled in under an hour.

— Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of fell

Verb

Both stocks faltered even though the full data which was released Thursday appeared meaningful for patients and positive relative to Wall Street expectations.

— Paulina Likos, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
The Giants hope the more mobile McCarthy can spark a struggling running game that has faltered with Winston at quarterback.

— Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of faltered

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bowed

bowed out

bowed (to)

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Style

“Bowed out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowed%20out. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of bowed out

verb

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