BOWED OUT Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

bowed out

verb

past tense of bow out

as in fell

to undergo defeat quite embarrassingly, the top-seeded player bowed out in the first round of competition

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of bowed out Also complicating matters is that some voters already have cast absentee ballots for Democrats who have bowed out of the race but remain on the ballot. — Gaby Vinick, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 In 2014, when Democrats bowed out of the Senate race to clear the way for independent entrepreneur Greg Orman, Republican incumbent Pat Roberts won the race by more than 10 percentage points. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026 A day later, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who had bowed out on July 8, reentered the race. — Scott Bauer, Twin Cities, 29 July 2026 One major suitor, UTA, had bowed out of the bidding process as of early June, an insider says. — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026 Variety understands Odom bowed out after the first act and was replaced by Manaia Glassey-Ohlson. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 24 July 2026 As for Lionel Messi, the legend failed to influence the game and bowed out of the tournament with a silver medal. — Mark Hodge, NBC news, 20 July 2026 Schwarber and Bryce Harper, who bowed out in the opening round, lingered on the field, their children running around them. — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 14 July 2026 Quote of the Day The words of Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal bowed out of the tournament with a 1-0 defeat to Spain just a few hours before the USA lost to Belgium. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bowed out

Verb

Mixed Pro Doubles Recap Roos van Reek & Jack Munro stayed out of trouble and avoided the early knockout round upsets that be felled many of the other top seeds to claim the Mixed title and guarantee the double-double for themselves on the weekend.

— Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
The storm felled trees and power lines and caused serious flooding that swept some 100 homes from their foundations on the Big Island, authorities said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of fell

Verb

Apartment values appear to have faltered in Oakland, an economic erosion that has unleashed loan delinquencies and even foreclosures in a growing number of instances.

— George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
But in Sunday’s matchup against the Portland Thorns, that unit faltered in a major way.

— Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of faltered

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bowed

bowed out

bowed (to)

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“Bowed out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bowed%20out. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of bowed out

verb

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