as in bends
something that curves or is curved
her full lips form a pair of perfect bows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in succumbs
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 submits
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 curves
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 arches
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bows
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
The garment is associated with a distinctively feminine look, including accents such as lace, ruffles, appliques, marabou, bows and ribbons.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 11 May 2026
There were also shots of the Funny Girl star standing alone, as well as some of a white cake with pink bows all around.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
The 21-year-old goalkeeper, who takes his last name from the Mura people of his birth, left his headdresses and bows behind to play for Originarios, a new soccer club in Rio’s fifth division that is mainly for players under the age of 23.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Families pile in with kids decked out in their Sunday best — bows in their hair, fluffy dresses, cowlicks gelled down.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Instead of bearing fishing poles, most have Soviet-era heavy machine guns bolted to their bows with a small rocket launcher atop.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
One daughter gives an electric grin, framed underneath two green hair bows.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
The black headphones feature two attachable black bows and an ear cushion embellished with symbols inspired by the singer’s music.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 May 2026
The film bows in Berlin’s Perspectives section.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Inside, surrounded by butter lamps and intricate iconography, even my skeptical husband bows before the Buddha.
—Shunali Khullar Shroff, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Nov. 2025
With her hand over her heart, the pair appear to have a heartfelt moment together, before each of them holds their hands together and bows toward each other in a traditional Thai gesture.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
The final man, in a last-second protective reflex, bows his head and crosses his hands over it, but bullets send him flying backward, and the other militiamen join in, firing repeatedly at the dead bodies.
—Nicolas Niarchos, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
This Hulu series, which bows season five in September, brings together the lovable misfits of the Arcadia, a grand apartment building in New York City where way too many people get murdered.
—Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
His new film, The Christophers, which bows in Toronto’s Special Presentations section, was made entirely outside the system.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Confidence in the Fed's autonomy could take a blow if the Fed bows down to a president's demands without a sound basis.
—Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
And bread lovers can turn to Gohar for a $278 silk baguette bag with satin bows.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
The garment is associated with a distinctively feminine look, including accents such as lace, ruffles, appliques, marabou, bows and ribbons.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 11 May 2026
There were also shots of the Funny Girl star standing alone, as well as some of a white cake with pink bows all around.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
The 21-year-old goalkeeper, who takes his last name from the Mura people of his birth, left his headdresses and bows behind to play for Originarios, a new soccer club in Rio’s fifth division that is mainly for players under the age of 23.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Families pile in with kids decked out in their Sunday best — bows in their hair, fluffy dresses, cowlicks gelled down.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Instead of bearing fishing poles, most have Soviet-era heavy machine guns bolted to their bows with a small rocket launcher atop.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
One daughter gives an electric grin, framed underneath two green hair bows.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
The black headphones feature two attachable black bows and an ear cushion embellished with symbols inspired by the singer’s music.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
The documentary directed by Maxence Voiseux bows in the Directors’ Fortnight sidebar, alongside fictional titles including Butterfly Jam, Atonement, and Clarissa.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 May 2026
The film bows in Berlin’s Perspectives section.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Inside, surrounded by butter lamps and intricate iconography, even my skeptical husband bows before the Buddha.
—Shunali Khullar Shroff, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Nov. 2025
With her hand over her heart, the pair appear to have a heartfelt moment together, before each of them holds their hands together and bows toward each other in a traditional Thai gesture.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
The final man, in a last-second protective reflex, bows his head and crosses his hands over it, but bullets send him flying backward, and the other militiamen join in, firing repeatedly at the dead bodies.
—Nicolas Niarchos, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
This Hulu series, which bows season five in September, brings together the lovable misfits of the Arcadia, a grand apartment building in New York City where way too many people get murdered.
—Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
His new film, The Christophers, which bows in Toronto’s Special Presentations section, was made entirely outside the system.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Confidence in the Fed's autonomy could take a blow if the Fed bows down to a president's demands without a sound basis.
—Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bows
Noun
-
The ride travels on an elliptical track and whips riders around bends.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
The fjord bends, combined with the ship being far enough away and in deep water, were key factors that saved them.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
In the May 10 episode of Marshals, Kayce (Luke Grimes) and Cal (Logan Marshall-Green) lose another of their former Navy SEAL teammates, as Garrett (Riley Green) succumbs to his injuries from a fire.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
-
Inspired by a drawing made by his nephew, the work unfolds as a sequence of panels in which the titular child, Julian, succumbs to illness.—
Emilie Hardman,
JSTOR Daily,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Sure enough, when the latest round of vendor selection gets underway, the vendor submits their bid.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
Instead, the group submits invoices for services like marketing, for instance, to the TDC, which then pays the vendor directly.—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The dials are all adorned with a railway minute track that curves around every petal to accentuate the flower’s form.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
19 May 2026
-
The Page style has a narrow slingback strap, a slim stiletto heel and an open front that curves into a small, petal-like peep-toe rather than a sharp cutout.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The protective netting that arches over so many of the roads in the eastern Donbas region – stopping drones in their tracks – is not your friend here, but a limitation on movement.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
-
According to Archer Western, HDR’s design engineers failed to properly account for wind loads — including hurricane winds — in an initial, partial design for the signature bridge arches that the contractor used to calculate construction costs and time for its bid.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Its outstanding appeal, grandish curvatures and extraordinary interior design are just the norm for the upscale interior brand.—
Marc D. Grasso,
Boston Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Posture Changes Spine curvatures can make standing up straight difficult, causing lower right back pain.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Alex Murdaugh surrenders Murdaugh turned himself in at the Hampton County Detention Center.—
Marlene Lenthang,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
-
Stray animals or surrenders will no longer be accepted at police stations in most cases, and neighborhood rescues are no longer an option for officers.—
Charlie De Mar,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Marketing experts say while more and more cash is flowing into the clip-ification of all things, those watching the content can view clips as cheap and disposable moments, not something that hooks someone on a show or internet personality.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
12 May 2026
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Set in the late 1980s, the film follows 13-year-old Felice (an exceptional Tiziano Menichelli), a budding tennis star whose overbearing father hooks him up with Raul Getti (Favino), a flameout former pro with a new lithium prescription and a serious ladies-man streak.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bows. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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