bent 1 of 3

chiefly British

bent

2 of 3

noun

bent

3 of 3

verb

past tense of bend
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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun bent differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bent are aptitude, faculty, genius, gift, knack, and talent. While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

When would aptitude be a good substitute for bent?

While the synonyms aptitude and bent are close in meaning, aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

When is faculty a more appropriate choice than bent?

The synonyms faculty and bent are sometimes interchangeable, but faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

In what contexts can genius take the place of bent?

Although the words genius and bent have much in common, genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

When might gift be a better fit than bent?

The words gift and bent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

Where would knack be a reasonable alternative to bent?

In some situations, the words knack and bent are roughly equivalent. However, knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

When is it sensible to use talent instead of bent?

The meanings of talent and bent largely overlap; however, talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

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 bent
Adjective
When your elbows are bent at a 90-degree angle, slowly return to the starting position. Katrina Carter, Verywell Health, 13 Feb. 2025 Whole trees, the size of a man’s leg, had been bent and splintered to the ground. Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 13 Feb. 2025
Noun
There’s definitely a bent toward Chinese cooking methods, though not strictly so, as her cooking style embodies the eclectic palette of a contemporary home kitchen. Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 30 Jan. 2025 For fall, the Blauer collection continued to revisit the brand’s roots in utilitarian outerwear with a military bent. Luisa Zargani, WWD, 21 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bent
Adjective
  • As a side sleeper who constantly wakes up with a crooked neck and often back pain, this was a huge plus.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 27 Feb. 2025
  • In short, repealing the FCPA will be a boon to crooked foreign corporations and will create an uneven playing field—in their favor.
    Matt Robison, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Beyond The Basics Successful investing requires mastering behavioral tendencies, and effective retirement planning demands a clear view of your financial reality.
    Wayne Anderman, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Playing in a defense requires knowing the scheme, understanding how to react to opponents’ tendencies and teammates’ on-the-fly decisions and making game plan specific adjustments.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Others are fine with building on the strength of a memorable story, but the best and longest-running series have a knack for reinvention.
    Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025
  • All three are extremely talky, but Haugerud has a knack for making rivers of dialogue fluid, dynamic and cinematic.
    David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Yale University has no explicit policy on AI and college essays, but the admissions office devoted an entire podcast to the subject.
    Brad Tuttle, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2025
  • At the top of those stairs, team officials devoted an entire lounge to the dogs, including a pet relief station equipped with artificial grass.
    Josh Robbins, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average, with a trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 27, and the S&P 500 Index’s P/E at 24, are both distorted by tech stocks, such as Nvidia (NVDA).
    Lawrence Carrel, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Has that distorted the trajectory of his adult life?
    Cressida Leyshon, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The suspects then loaded the ATM onto a trailer attached to a U-Haul box truck and fled the area, authorities said.
    Maggie Ybarra, Baltimore Sun, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Both phrases entered the 2024 pop culture lexicon, with memes and short form video trends attached.
    Meghan Mahar, Billboard, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken some steps to regulate the collection of data in vehicles, focusing on consumer protection and preventing deceptive practices.
    Eric Reicin, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Burrowes’ new fraud lawsuit also includes claims for unjust enrichment and deceptive business practices.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • This told them that all coral structures take their shape from individual polyps’ microscopic inclinations.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 26 Feb. 2025
  • His geopolitical inclinations have not changed, and his antidemocratic tendencies have only gotten worse.
    HAL BRANDS, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bent. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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