bent 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of bentnext
chiefly British
as in crooked
given to or marked by cheating and deception the drug dealer knew which of the cops were bent

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bent

2 of 3

noun

ˈbent How to pronounce bent (audio)
1
as in tendency
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing the perfect gift for a person of a literary bent

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2
as in knack
a special and usually inborn ability having a decided bent for languages, he picked up Italian in no time

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bent

3 of 3

verb

past tense of bend
1
as in arched
to cause to turn away from a straight line she bent the blade of the knife when she got it jammed in the drawer

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2
as in devoted
to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention bent herself to the task for the rest of the day

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3
as in aimed
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal bent all of his efforts toward making his first documentary film

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4
as in curved
to turn away from a straight line or course the stream bends slightly to the east

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5
as in distorted
to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of attorneys bending the facts to put their client in the most favorable light

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6
as in attached
to cause (something) to hold to another bend a leash to the dog's collar

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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
Lie on one side of your body, knees bent and the inside of your feet touching. —Alyssa Ages, Outside Online, 3 Apr. 2025 The Cybertruck’s windshield wiper literally bent while trying to clear snow. —Will McCurdy, PCMAG, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
More than 40 years later, the film's political bent seems timelier than ever. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025 Herro, too: Listed as questionable earlier in the day due to hip contusion, Herro played with an aggressive bent. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bent
  1. crooked
  2. tendency
  3. knack
  4. devoted
  5. distorted
  6. attached
  7. deceptive
  8. inclination
Adjective
  • Katt's other notable roles included that of teacher Harry Senate on the school drama Boston Public, crooked finance associate Greg Weinstein in Boiler Room, and detective Frank Duggar in Speakeasy.
    — Kat Stinson, EW.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • He’s been dropping tapes nonstop since 2022, as his method is really to flood the internet with his motivation music and unglamorous crime epics full of crooked cops, lookout boys, dealers, dope fiends, tricks, and urban decay.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of crooked
Noun
  • According to Limon-Rocha, various life stressors—such as starting a new school, being bullied, losing a beloved pet, or having a family member with health issues—can all trigger perfectionist tendencies.
    — Sherri Gordon, Parents, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The tendency in the forecast has been for the front to set up across southeast portions of the Kansas City forecast area.
    — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of tendency
Noun
  • Grapevine has a flurry of talent including junior catcher Gianni Corral, an uncommitted recruit who was previously committed to Texas A&M. Outfielder Zachary Goldstein, also a junior, is a scrappy speedster with a knack for getting on base.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Hemingway is a 6-foot-3, 284-pound defensive lineman from Conway, S.C., with a knack for getting after the quarterback.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of knack
Verb
  • Brown devoted Wednesdays to mobility and conditioning after years of just incorporating it into his daily workouts.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The special section of Art Bulletin—which, as the discipline’s flagship journal, constitutes a semiofficial statement about AI’s importance in the field—devoted the majority of its space to critical commentary about the application of computer vision to works of art.
    — Sonja Drimmer, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of devoted
Verb
  • An immigration surge prior to last year’s homeless count likely distorted the picture of homelessness in the country, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis of research by University of Pennsylvania professor Dennis Culhane, a leading national expert on homelessness.
    — Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
  • But the excitement over defeating the evil scientists and saving the damsel is distorted by the sound of Gemma’s distressed cries.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of distorted
Verb
  • Murillo’s name has been attached to that song since his first few months in Nottingham and one game in particular when West Ham United were the opposition at the City Ground.
    — Daniel Taylor, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Initial experimental validation of the concept Electrodes were attached, and the experiment began in complete darkness, eliminating potential photoelectric interference.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of attached
Adjective
  • Battering ram with deceptive speed (4.51), but struggles catching the ball.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • In addition to his first-term tariffs, Trump also filed a formal World Trade Organization case against China, alleging deceptive trade practices and intellectual property theft.
    — David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of deceptive
Noun
  • Stolarz’s inclination to shout instructions at teammates on the ice, often with serious levels of hostility in the name of competition, comes to him naturally.
    — Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Tariffs are designed for a combination of reasons, including protecting domestic markets; inviting foreign investment; and becoming more effective using capabilities, inclinations, and talents in other parts of the world.
    — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of inclination

Phrases Containing bent

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benisons
bent
benthic
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Cite this Entry

“Bent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bent. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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