The Indians fought with bows and arrows.
Source: tatoeba (65737)
Bows
/baʊz/
Synonyms for "bows" (19 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: archery bow, bend, cello bow, curve, decorative knot.
- Sentence evidence is available for bows, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss, derived_reverse.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "bows".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "bows"
Keep "bows" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "bows" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "bows", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "bows" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
16 entriesMore specific
17 entriescello bowcomposite bowcurvefiddle bowfigureheadforecastlegift bowlegatolongbowrecurve bowsaluteshoelace bowshort bowspiccatoviola bowviolin bow
Showing 16 of 17 words.
Collocations
12 entriesbow strokebowing gesturebowing techniqueformal bowgift bowgraceful bowhair bowlongbowmeasured bowribbon bowship bowviolin bow
Inflections
2 entriesDerivations
5 entriesSample sentences
10 total sentences available.
That man bows to me as if he knew me.
Source: tatoeba (68099)
Before battle was joined they say that someone from Trachis warned him how many Persians there were by saying that when they fired their bows, they hid the sun with the mass of arrows. Dianeces, so the story goes, was so dismissive of the Persian numbers that he calmly replied, "All to the good, my friend from Trachis. If the Persians hide the sun, the battle will be in shade rather than sunlight."
Source: tatoeba (6203044)
Mary always ties her bows with such panache.
Source: tatoeba (8985140)
Showing 4 of 10 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "bows"?
Closest matches include archery bow, bend, cello bow, curve, decorative knot.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "bows"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.