Definitions

bowing

[boh-ing] / ˈboʊ ɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

bending

Synonyms

STRONG

arching curving spiraling twining twisting veering warping winding

Antonyms

WEAK

straight unbent unbowed

ADJECTIVE

fawning

Synonyms

STRONGEST

flattering

STRONG

bootlicking cowering crawling cringing humble ingratiating kowtowing prostrate scraping sniveling

WEAK

abject adulatory brown-nosing compliant mealy-mouthed obsequious parasitic servile slavish spineless submissive subservient sycophant sycophantic

Antonyms

WEAK

aloof cool disinterested proud unfriendly

NOUN

capitulation

Synonyms

STRONGEST

submission yielding

STRONG

conceding resignation surrender

WEAK

accedence buckling giving up knuckling under relenting succumbing

Antonyms

WEAK

defending fight fighting

NOUN

inclination

Synonyms

STRONGEST

leaning

STRONG

acclivity bank bend bending bevel bow cant declivity deviation direction downgrade grade gradient hill incline lean list pitch ramp slope tilt

NOUN

submission

Synonyms

STRONGEST

capitulation resignation

STRONG

acquiescence appeasement assent defeatism deference docility humbleness humility malleability meekness nonresistance obedience passivism passivity prostration servility subjection submissiveness surrender tractability unassertiveness yielding

WEAK

backing down cringing giving-in pliabilty recreancy submitting

Antonyms

STRONG

disagreement disobedience rebellion

WEAK

fight resistance

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The sight of Salah scoring - then kneeling down and bowing his head to the floor in an act of prostration that Muslims call Sujood - will never be forgotten.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Podcasts can run forever, but some hosts are bowing out as celebrities and YouTube dominate the industry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

As the national anthem played following their victories, Smith and Carlos expressed their anger about racial injustice in America by bowing their heads and raising their fists.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026

Raducanu has had a low-key start to the year, bowing out in the quarter-finals of a warm-up tournament in a surprise straight-sets loss to 204th-ranked Taylah Preston.

From Barron's • Jan. 21, 2026

Suddenly Uncle George did a pigeon wing, and bowing low before Grandma he began to jig.

From "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

bowing

Example Sentences

Related Words