1
as in to arch
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to devote
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 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
4
5
as in to distort
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 to attach
to cause (something) to hold to another
bend a leash to the dog's collar
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in curvature
something that curves or is curved
it's hard to see around that bend in the road, so be careful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bend
Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
The government’s solutions to bending the cost curve have largely failed and, in some cases, unintentionally exacerbated underlying problems, the focus of my last book, Bringing Value to Healthcare.
—Rita Numerof, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Jacob Louraine, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025
Rent from any of the various sports equipment centers in town, lather up with sunscreen, and float down the crystal clear river where alpine vistas are always just around the bend.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bend
Verb
Wilkinson’s conservative pedigree may complicate White House efforts to credibly assail him as a left-leaning jurist bent on thwarting the Trump administration’s agenda for political purposes, a fallback line of attack when judicial decisions run counter to the president’s wishes.
—Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
The government’s solutions to bending the cost curve have largely failed and, in some cases, unintentionally exacerbated underlying problems, the focus of my last book, Bringing Value to Healthcare.
—Rita Numerof, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
Columbia Rounding the bend with just two laps remaining in Saturday’s 3,000-meter final, Missouri’s Drew Rogers ran in the eighth position, hugging the back of the lead pack.
—Jacob Louraine, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025
Rent from any of the various sports equipment centers in town, lather up with sunscreen, and float down the crystal clear river where alpine vistas are always just around the bend.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bend
Verb
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In the bottom of the first inning on Opening Day 2023, Aaron Judge clobbered a high, arching narrative over the center-field wall, and that was it.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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This tough shrub puts on a stunning spring display, with showy rose-like blooms lining gracefully arching branches.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The store also devoted four windows on Fifth Avenue to the collection, which will remain through April 30.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
17 Apr. 2025
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The organization devoted a team to research fan sections across college sports, European leagues and around the world, which eventually led to the concept for The Wall.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The Culture community aimed at creating equitable business pathways for Black and Brown professionals.—
Brianne Garrett,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
-
Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, theoretically aimed at matching the fees other countries charge for U.S. shipments to their countries, included a minimum 10% fee and additional charges of up to 50% on more than 50 nations.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Concave tiles, which curve inward, and convex tiles, which curve outward, are installed at different levels along the seawall.—
Sara Pezeshk,
The Conversation,
16 Apr. 2025
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After completing Slither Housing in 2000, an angular yet gently curved 105-unit apartment building in Japan’s Gifu prefecture, the husband-and-wife team increasingly turned its attentions to cultural architecture.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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What once kept us safe can now distort intimacy, create misunderstandings and erode trust.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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The references to nineteenth-century American literary heroes and ideals may be distorted, but the ideals find an authentic embodiment in these calmly rapturous images of nature.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Oyster larvae can then attach to the shells, their preferred surface, and develop into mature oysters to help rebuild the habitat.—
Jillian Freyer,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
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Proceeds from companies that paid for their names to be attached to the event benefit the nonprofit White House Historical Association, the lead organizer of the egg roll.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The round brush head allows for beginner-friendly blending by mimicking the natural curvature of fingers.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
28 Mar. 2025
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The architecture, a minimalist fusion of modernist lines and biomorphic flow, reflects the curvature of the coastline itself.—
Ashlee Marie Preston,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Amazon doesn't specify the level of pressure or tilt sensitivity on the Premium pen, but the stylus feels responsive in use.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
15 Apr. 2025
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The race is on to open America’s first tilt coaster As fate would have it, the past repeats itself when the wolf returns.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bend. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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