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
When deer bend down to eat the bait, paint rollers cover their heads in permethrin. Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 As if the arc of history just naturally bends towards justice without aggrieved people putting pressure on it. Sarah Schulman, Literary Hub, 29 June 2026
Noun
As Rice whips the ball in with bend and power, keep an eye on England’s blockers in the clip below. Thom Harris, New York Times, 23 June 2026 Few officials have studied more carefully how the global energy system bends and buckles under pressure. Clay Chandler, semafor.com, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bend
Verb
  • When the rain cleared, a rainbow arched above the New York skyline.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Pay Attention to Plant Form Plants come in a wide range of shapes, from arching to columnar to spreading.
    Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Historians have devoted enormous attention to the collapse of the royal courts, the creation of state judiciaries, the drafting of new constitutions, and the construction of the legal institutions of the new republic.
    Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • The North Dakota library, located near the national park gateway town of Medora, devotes a number of exhibits to Roosevelt’s commitment to protecting America’s vanishing wildlands and wild animals.
    Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • In Cañon City, Colorado, authorities are aiming for a 20% to 30% reduction in water use while asking residents to voluntarily conserve outdoor water consumption.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Those conversations helped fuel Soto-Martínez’s decision in late April to push for a ballot proposal aimed at giving noncitizens the right to vote in city and school district elections.
    Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • His update on the C-cut began just below the chin, with extra lift at the roots and inward-curving lengths that narrowed toward the ends to create the illusion of a heart.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 July 2026
  • In the final minute of stoppage time to end the first half, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi curved his free kick right in front of the goal, seemingly just one perfect touch away from a goal.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Slow-motion replays and still images distort the offending player’s actions, with innocuous tackles looking more serious.
    Tom Bogert, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • Any whack job with a phone can distort reality, and that’s not helpful.
    David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • But success in this area would give Meta a robust revenue stream that isn’t attached to its bread-and-butter advertising business, which drives all but 2% of the company’s total revenue.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • Karger’s original screenplay Fantasy Camp sold in a competitive bidding situation to STX and had Jennifer Garner attached to star.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • The greater the mass of the object, the more extreme the curvature and thus the greater the gravitational influence of that object.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 June 2026
  • This saves you a massive 42% on an elite display packing QHD resolution, blistering refresh rates and response times, and an immersive 1000R panel curvature.
    Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • The election of Raman and Roy would also underscore the leftward tilt of Los Angeles, which has four City Council members, including Raman, who are DSA members — two of whom were reelected in the primary.
    Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2026
  • For instance, Apollo 14 experienced a 7-degree tilt on landing, and Apollo 15 had an 11-degree tilt on touchdown.
    Leonard David, Space.com, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bend. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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