Synonyms for

Bend

Verb / bend / Another word for bend — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

to curve or turn something

Synonyms & similar words

unbend bow flex benddexter fold plication crimp flexure crease crook crouch stoop twist curve bend straighten bending turnaway turn deform deflect flex bow curve twist turn contort crook deform deviate dip distort hook incline lean sway tilt twirl warp wind angle

Synonyms by register

Formal

flex curve deviate inflect

Informal

kink warp bow lean

Literary

swerve arc coil

Antonyms

straighten unbend flatten extend stretch tighten

Common collocations

  • bend the rules
  • bend over backwards
  • bend your ear
  • bend the knee
  • bend the light
  • bend the road
  • bend the metal

Word family

noun bend
verb bend
adjective bent

Usage note

The verb 'bend' often implies applying force to change the shape or direction of something. 'Bend the rules' is a common idiom meaning to break or ignore rules, often in a flexible way.

Example sentences

  1. She had to bend down to tie her shoe.
  2. He used a hammer to bend the nail.
  3. The road started to bend to the left.
  4. The tree branches bend in the wind.
  5. I can bend my arm to touch my shoulder.

Quotes

  • Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations. - Oliver Goldsmith
  • It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change. - Charles Darwin
  • The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance. - Alan Watts

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