as in curves
something that curves or is curved
the stars seemed to align themselves into one vast glittering arc
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in sweeps
to turn away from a straight line or course
the ball arced toward the batter and nearly hit him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arcs
Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Alison Oliver, meanwhile, gives an unexpectedly elastic performance, bringing grotesque humor and real pathos to Isabella Linton, whose transformation over the course of the film is one of its most convincing arcs.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
Darnold, who resurrected his career, has capped one of the greatest redemption arcs ever seen in football with a Lombardi Trophy after he was considered by many to have been a draft bust.
—CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Its twists are as shocking as those in a conventional thriller, and Cretton is a master of selling emotions and entire character arcs with a single shot.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
Tighter curves reveal lower momentum, whereas wider arcs show higher energy.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
Longer arcs are similarly inconsistent.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
Even during moderate storms, auroras can appear as faint, gray or milky arcs to the naked eye, while appearing vivid in photographs.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Beneath these arcs, the single-file dots invite tight playing.
—Olivia Giovetti, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Liam Tharme, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
Richard Gabriel Moritz | Unsplash Many readers will know this coastline—which arcs its way from the French border in the west to Tuscany in the east, via the ancient port city of Genoa—for the five absurdly picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre.
—Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
The Egg Nebula, so-named for its yolk (the star) surrounded by egg white (clouds of dust and gas), is extraordinarily dynamic, with twin beams of light punching through a series of rippling arcs.
—Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Alison Oliver, meanwhile, gives an unexpectedly elastic performance, bringing grotesque humor and real pathos to Isabella Linton, whose transformation over the course of the film is one of its most convincing arcs.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
Darnold, who resurrected his career, has capped one of the greatest redemption arcs ever seen in football with a Lombardi Trophy after he was considered by many to have been a draft bust.
—CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Its twists are as shocking as those in a conventional thriller, and Cretton is a master of selling emotions and entire character arcs with a single shot.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
Tighter curves reveal lower momentum, whereas wider arcs show higher energy.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
Longer arcs are similarly inconsistent.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
Even during moderate storms, auroras can appear as faint, gray or milky arcs to the naked eye, while appearing vivid in photographs.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Beneath these arcs, the single-file dots invite tight playing.
—Olivia Giovetti, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Salah arcs his run to shut off the pass from centre-back Josko Gvardiol to left-back Nico O’Reilly.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
Richard Gabriel Moritz | Unsplash Many readers will know this coastline—which arcs its way from the French border in the west to Tuscany in the east, via the ancient port city of Genoa—for the five absurdly picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre.
—Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arcs
Noun
-
The tension in a luge sled allows athletes to manipulate it just so, digging in the runners and steering with sharp precision around curves.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The downhill was already one of the signature events of Alpine skiing, a can’t-look-away showcase as women carve down mountains, around curves and over jumps, pushing 80 mph.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Its outstanding appeal, grandish curvatures and extraordinary interior design are just the norm for the upscale interior brand.—
Marc D. Grasso,
Boston Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Posture Changes Spine curvatures can make standing up straight difficult, causing lower right back pain.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
If runways in Milan and Paris offer any early hint, NYFW may be defined more by curved silhouettes and soft edges than by harsh angles and bright yet classic colorplay in place of the ever-present clean-girl aesthetic.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The book opens its aperture to the amplest of wide angles, too.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His bends and sighs can be heard on records from Mouth Painter, North Americans, the Rose City Band and Jeffrey Silverstein, not to mention a string of solo albums both alone and with various bands (the post-rocking Tanks, the more sedate Unit).—
Daniel Bromfield,
Pitchfork,
11 Feb. 2026
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Those bends tend to set up in ways that reinforce background conditions related to Earth’s geography, Swain says.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
On top of the wet conditions, some strong winds will accompany the storm, especially in the mountain areas, where gusts are expected to reach 30 to 50 mph.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Harper and Yasmin, who’s emerged as the series’ co-lead, started out among Pierpoint’s newest hires; by the end of Season 3, the firm had been effectively dissolved, its novice traders scattered to the winds.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arcs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arcs. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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