bend 1 of 2

Definition of bendnext
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as in to aim
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

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as in to curve
to turn away from a straight line or course the stream bends slightly to the east

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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bend

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noun

Example 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 bend
Verb
Holley uses line in the 25-pound range, filament that enables him to muscle fish out of the thick stuff and bend his hooks free of hangups without losing the terminal tackle. John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026 Don’t bend over or crouch down. Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
Noun
Don’t miss the short climb to Woodstock Tower for a panoramic look at the river’s famous bends. Hayley Hutson, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026 The 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix (GP) is around the bend, beginning Friday, May 1 at the Miami International Autodrome at Hard Rock Stadium and concluding on Sunday, May 3. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bend
Verb
  • The interior has arched marble hallways and opulent gold walls in the 12 butler's pantries.
    Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
  • The branches arch as the plant ages.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • Because teams are deciding whether to devote millions of dollars and precious roster spots to occasionally unreliable males in their early twenties, much of a scout’s work is akin to investigative reporting.
    Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • The show devotes a lot of screen time to the fallout from a particular revelation and the subsequent efforts to smoke out the mole.
    Kate Lavelle, Glamour, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • Some of Thomas’s critique appeared to be aimed at weak-willed conservatives, including his fellow-Justices, for being, as Thomas perceives it, too spineless to stand up for the ideals enshrined in the Declaration.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
  • Organizers of the flotilla, which aimed to highlight the conditions for the 2 million or so Palestinians in Gaza, said Israeli soldiers fired on five boats during the interdictions, causing some damage.
    Nick Duffy, NBC news, 20 May 2026
Verb
  • In fact, according to NOAA, only about a quarter of eastern Pacific hurricanes and tropical storms ever make landfall — most curve west and stay out at sea.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 14 May 2026
  • High up on the curving walls to either side were large murals painted in the 1930s by the artist Barry Faulkner portraying Thomas Jefferson handing the Declaration to John Hancock and the ratification of the Constitution.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • The body does not care about your percentile ranking when the anatomy is distorted, the bleeding starts, and the room becomes quiet.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
  • Employers know—or should know—that personal relationships can distort workplace decision making, even when no one intends them to.
    William Phillips, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Verb
  • The dress had a hood attached that acted as a veil; when Taylor removed it, the dress transformed into an off-the-shoulder stunner.
    Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
  • Designed as a complete portable signal path rather than a basic adapter, the MD3 has dual USB-C ports for attaching to a smartphone and charging at the same time.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Noun
  • The outlet measured the distance between stadiums using the WGS-84 ellipsoidal Earth model, which accounts for the curvature of the earth.
    PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2026
  • The sculptural Monde sofa gives a nod to Art Deco, and the curvature of the Courbe side table channels a form popular in the early 20th century.
    Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • One which changes profoundly with the tilts and turn of the planet, yet its essence holds true.
    Nick Scott, Robb Report, 17 May 2026
  • The best Monday night matchup, though, may be the Week 5 tilt between the Bills and Rams in Los Angeles.
    Mike Jones, New York Times, 16 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bend. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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