as in nodding
bending downward or forward
the bowing blossoms indicated that the petunia plant desperately needed water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in succumbing
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)
finally bowed to the judge's insistence that she change her outfit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in submitting
to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit)
bowed to the craving for fresh coffee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in curving
to turn away from a straight line or course
the river bows gently to the north before it reaches the sea
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bending
to cause to turn away from a straight line
you'll have to gently bow the strip of wood in order to fit it in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bowing
Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026
Heated Rivalry also makes a splash on the latest Top TV Songs list, bowing with three tunes in the top six.
—Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 23 Jan. 2026
Congress needs to stop bowing to the king and serve the people they were elected to represent.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
The company’s legacy and evolution will be retraced in an exhibition bowing in September to further mark the anniversary celebrations.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
The Hoosiers are kings of the football world, and everyone in Alabama is bowing down in their honor.
—Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
Give branches and limbs bowing under the weight of snow or ice a helping hand.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Worst to First Riding high after winning the American League pennant in a historic worst-to-first season, the Jays came within a whisker of winning the World Series, bowing in a seven-game classic against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 3 Jan. 2026
Even Prince William follows this protocol and has been seen bowing his head towards his father and stepmother.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
Verb
The company also has Citadel star Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ actioner The Bluff bowing on the Amazon platform next month.
—Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026
Heated Rivalry also makes a splash on the latest Top TV Songs list, bowing with three tunes in the top six.
—Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 23 Jan. 2026
Congress needs to stop bowing to the king and serve the people they were elected to represent.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
The company’s legacy and evolution will be retraced in an exhibition bowing in September to further mark the anniversary celebrations.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
The Hoosiers are kings of the football world, and everyone in Alabama is bowing down in their honor.
—Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
Give branches and limbs bowing under the weight of snow or ice a helping hand.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Worst to First Riding high after winning the American League pennant in a historic worst-to-first season, the Jays came within a whisker of winning the World Series, bowing in a seven-game classic against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 3 Jan. 2026
Even Prince William follows this protocol and has been seen bowing his head towards his father and stepmother.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowing
Adjective
-
James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.—
Aylin Woodward,
WSJ,
21 Dec. 2021
Adjective
-
The building with its bowed windows and a Queen Ann tower had already been around for nine years before its owner placed a classified ad in a July 1897 issue of The Kansas City Times.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
19 Nov. 2025
-
No racist stereotypes, no demeaning facial expressions, no bowed heads, and no broken bodies from the old Hollywood.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Bowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowing. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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