bent

14 synonyms and 1 antonym for bent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Curved, folded, or twisted out of its original straight shape.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

set hang

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

inclination flair leaning

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

aptitude knack penchant bended predilection proclivity propensity dented crumpled

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Curved, folded, or twisted out of its original straight shape.

“She straightened the bent paper clip and used it to open the lock.”

inclination aptitude flair knack leaning penchant bended predilection proclivity propensity dented crumpled

Opposites

straight

2. noun

A natural inclination, skill, or tendency.

“She has a natural bent for music and picked up the piano quickly.”

set hang knack

How to use bent

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

bent on revenge bent cop a natural bent for something

"Bent" meaning corrupt is chiefly British informal usage, especially for dishonest police officers or officials.

Etymology

From the past-tense and past-participle forms of Middle English benden, "to bend."

Full origin of bent →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bent” mean?

The word “bent” means curved, folded, or twisted out of its original straight shape. In plain terms, physically curved or twisted, or, figuratively, someone who is corrupt or firmly set on doing something.

How do you pronounce “bent”?

“Bent” is pronounced behnt (/bɛnt/ in IPA).

How do you use “bent” in a sentence?

Here is “bent” used in a sentence: “The bike's front wheel was badly bent after the crash.”

What is another word for “bent”?

Words with a similar meaning to “bent” include predilection, proclivity and propensity.

What part of speech is “bent”?

Depending on how it is used, “bent” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “bent” come from?

The word “bent” comes from Middle English. From the past-tense and past-participle forms of Middle English benden, "to bend.".

Is “bent” a common word?

“Bent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “bent” have?

“Bent” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: curved, folded, or twisted out of its original straight shape.

Is it "bent" or "bended"?

The normal past tense and past participle of bend is bent: "she bent the wire," "the frame got bent." Bended survives only in the fixed expression on bended knee (or knees), used for proposals and earnest pleading.

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set straight hang leaning flair inclination aptitude knack propensity proclivity penchant crumpled

Nearby words

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