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

Examples 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
Keeping your knees bent, let your body weight sink towards the floor. Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, 9 Oct. 2024 The eight-piece stainless steel set comes with a knife, fork, spoon, chopsticks, straight straw, bent straw, straw cleaning brush, and carrying case. Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2024
Noun
The complaints were frequently of a puritanical and/or phony high-brow bent. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2024 Hereafter is ultimately too touchy-feely for its own good — too awed by its modest musings on the mystery of being alive — and the film suggests Damon isn’t so great at playing characters with a mystical bent. Will Leitch, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bent 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bent
Adjective
  • Undeterred, many simply turn around and renew their northbound journeys, dodging criminals, crooked cops and Mexican immigration agents.
    Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
  • The crooked cop doesn’t seem worried about his current situation.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 4 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • And while her tendency to deviate from what’s considered professional is a major archetype of her personality, there’s much more to Ava that other people in leadership roles can learn from.
    Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
  • The sulfur particles, on the other hand, ranked second to last because of their tendency to absorb sunlight at certain wavelengths rather than reflect it and its clumpiness.
    Devika Rao, theweek, 12 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • More news: Chiefs vs Buccaneers Expert Predictions for Monday Night Football Week 9 Kansas City also has a knack for finding receivers that end up becoming stars.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Which brings up a second paradox: Dudamel always seems most energized with scores full of rhythmic rattle and percussive excitement, pieces that demand pinpoint exactitude and a knack for assembling large, coherent structures out of jagged shards.
    Justin Davidson, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • The data that the central bank uses to make all sorts of decisions about the economy will be distorted as people recover.
    Melvin Backman, Quartz, 11 Oct. 2024
  • The voice is distorted enough to give away that this couldn’t possibly be the real James, and yet, Isaac’s dogged determination to protect the creature is fueled by its haunting professions of love for the child.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Lawmakers focused on how Microsoft packaged its products into tiers of service — with advanced security tools attached to only the most expensive license, known to government customers as the G5.
    Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 15 Nov. 2024
  • Carousel of Dreams — wherein a massive clock, with Zodiac symbols in place of numbers, was attached to the store’s façade.
    Madeline Fitzgerald, Quartz, 13 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • But deceptive narrative and form are not what wreaked havoc on Catherine’s life.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
  • See Arizona election results | Live coverage on Election Day Labor activists, on the other hand, have called the measure a deceptive sham.
    Ray Stern, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Although the natural inclination is to think of a marathon as something done on foot, or by people who are known as ambulatory, the NYC Marathon does have a program for the race that’s inclusive of wheelchair users.
    Steven Aquino, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
  • Smullen’s inclinations here reek of resentment rather than a healthier competitiveness that would drive him to bring a solid case against his main suspect.
    Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Lim said that production and creative talent should expand their range of co-operation.
    Patrick Frater, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Both parties, of course, ultimately stood by their call, and they were vindicated in the end, but according to executives and on-air talent at multiple TV networks that spoke with The Hollywood Reporter, the lessons of that call are still being felt.
    Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near bent

Cite this Entry

“Bent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bent. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on bent

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