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
Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
The Traitors and Love on the Spectrum both feature strong characters with compelling arcs.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 May 2026
Russell’s rise over the last several years has been one of the more compelling arcs in contemporary roots music.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 8 May 2026
Unlike most Marvel movies that have the complexity of a shopping list, this film is refreshingly deeper and boasts rare transformative arcs for various characters — and not just the lead.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 6 May 2026
The only way to subdue the dizziness may be to let go of the big ideas—nation, nature, arcs of history bending toward justice, and so on.
—Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
The cut features plenty of unseen character arcs and alternate takes.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2026
Dana and Harper occasionally feel extraneous, there to fill out the group rather than carry out their own narrative arcs, but the bond between Charlie and Lorcan, and Lorcan’s search for his place in the world, is a solid emotional core the show never loses sight of.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 1 May 2026
Bands, rayed bands, horizontal arcs, rayed arcs, coronas, and more.
—Heather Greenwood Davis, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 May 2026
Levy arcs his character’s growing exasperation in a way that’s funny, if somewhat limited.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
In doing so, the memoir arcs outward, moving from a personal reckoning with gender towards an open-ended, existential understanding for readers to grasp on their own.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
In these short vignettes and bursts typed largely on the computer, the arcs availed themselves.
—Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
The Traitors and Love on the Spectrum both feature strong characters with compelling arcs.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 May 2026
Russell’s rise over the last several years has been one of the more compelling arcs in contemporary roots music.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 8 May 2026
Unlike most Marvel movies that have the complexity of a shopping list, this film is refreshingly deeper and boasts rare transformative arcs for various characters — and not just the lead.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 6 May 2026
The only way to subdue the dizziness may be to let go of the big ideas—nation, nature, arcs of history bending toward justice, and so on.
—Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
The cut features plenty of unseen character arcs and alternate takes.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2026
Dana and Harper occasionally feel extraneous, there to fill out the group rather than carry out their own narrative arcs, but the bond between Charlie and Lorcan, and Lorcan’s search for his place in the world, is a solid emotional core the show never loses sight of.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 1 May 2026
Bands, rayed bands, horizontal arcs, rayed arcs, coronas, and more.
—Heather Greenwood Davis, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
This time, the path of totality begins in Siberia, crosses eastern Greenland and western Iceland, then arcs across northern Spain, before ending in the Mediterranean.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 May 2026
Levy arcs his character’s growing exasperation in a way that’s funny, if somewhat limited.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
In doing so, the memoir arcs outward, moving from a personal reckoning with gender towards an open-ended, existential understanding for readers to grasp on their own.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
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
-
Missouri curves Walking across the old Chain of Rocks Bridge gave everyone a chance to stretch their legs.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
-
In fact, the only way astronomers know dark matter exists is via its interaction with gravity and the way this interaction curves spacetime, indirectly influencing ordinary matter and light.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
15 May 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
-
Torres provides crucial evidence and new angles for the NYPD, so Benson and her colleagues can finally hunt Caine down and arrest him.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
-
This has always been true to an extent, but in 2026, optimizing those angles has become something of an extreme sport.—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The ride travels on an elliptical track and whips riders around bends.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
The fjord bends, combined with the ship being far enough away and in deep water, were key factors that saved them.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
The same weather system is also fueling high winds across the Great Plains and causing wildfires to rapidly spread.—
Rob Marciano,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
In unleashing its high-end, Category 4, 150-mile-per-hour winds four years ago, Hurricane Ian cemented a reputation as the deadliest Florida hurricane in almost 90 years.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arcs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arcs. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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