Bends

Lead bends easily.

The river bends slightly to the right here.

Bamboo bends before the wind.

The road bends sharply to the right at this point.

He bends everybody to his will.

The worm bends.

That exercise - backs together, link arms, one bends forwards while the other stretches their back - we did that a lot as children, didn't we?

Tom bends over backwards to please Mary.

Tom bends over backwards to make Mary happy.

He's got the bends.