to unbend

Examples

• All

• And you may even enjoy yourself if you unbend a bit.

  Fiction book (1999)

• Some of the flowers shake themselves in the marsh-farm gardens, unbending, standing up straight again.

  Fiction book (2002)

• Oh, I suppose you could learn to unbend a little now and then, but why would she not like you?

  Fiction book (1995)

• Should she unbend more?

  Academic text (1997)

• He would not unbend more than that, not for his own nameday.

  Fiction book (1992)

• That should satisfy her so much she might unbend enough to say his name, which had not crossed her lips since the night he left home.

  Fiction book (1991)

• When his mind unbends itself in a reverie, and without attending to any particular object, the ideas appear and glide away according to the caprice of undirected fancy...

  Academic text (2017)

• She nodded her head in assent to her evaluation, placed her right hand on the bench, and, pushing, sliding, and humming, stood up, unbending slowly.

  Fiction book (1996)

• Unbending—considerately, of course, with a solicitous hand—unbending with familiar pity, that is the characteristic art of Jesuitism which has always known how to introduce itself as a religion of pity.

  Academic text (2000)

• After a long day at work, she likes to unbend by taking a warm bath and reading a good book.

Synonyms

R

to relax

vsto unbend

∞ 1.0

To feel less nervous and more calm

focuses on easing mental or social stiffness rather than general rest

L

to loosen up

vsto unbend

• Informal

86 3.4

To relax and become less nervous or tense

is mainly about becoming mentally or socially less tense rather than only less formal

U

to unwind

vsto unbend

43 3.4

Become relaxed and less tense after work or a stressful time

applies more to easing mental or social tension not only after work

R

to rest easy

vsto unbend

• Informal

23 4.2

Feel calm and not worried after someone reassures you

means to become mentally or socially less tense, not only feel reassured

M

to mellow out

vsto unbend

• Informal

22 6.3

Become more relaxed and easygoing

is more neutral and social focused rather than casual change in mood

D

to decompress

vsto unbend

• Informal

12 4.2

Relax and become less tense after work or stress

covers mental or social easing rather than only physical rest

How Relaxed

to unwind

43 3.4

to relax

∞ 1.0

to unbend

1 5.6

to tense up

• Informal

11 3.7

to stiffen

34 3.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology