arc 1 of 2

noun

ˈärk How to pronounce arc (audio)
Definition of arcnext
as in curvature
something that curves or is curved the stars seemed to align themselves into one vast glittering arc

Synonyms & Similar Words

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arc

2 of 2

verb

as in to curve
to turn away from a straight line or course the ball arced toward the batter and nearly hit him

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 arc
Noun
If there is something schematic about the arc, the characters within it, Clive as much as Leo, are completely human. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 In keeping with the concept, this Lee gets more of his own arc, driven by his own decisions and developed enough to rival his employers for the center of the show. — Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
With MacIver well off her line, Gutierres bent an arcing shot into the net from 40 yards out on the right side. — ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026 Government fire investigators said the fire, which killed 19 people and destroyed thousands of homes in Altadena, was caused by electrical arcing on Edison’s out-of-service transmission line in Eaton Canyon. — Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for arc
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arc
  1. curvature
  2. curve
  3. angle
  4. bend
  5. turn
Noun
  • Mike recalled that the effects of the disease were noticeable around the time of his 2011 wedding to Zara, and said his father’s physical decline had included curvature of the spine and subsequent medical problems.
    — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026
  • An ant living deep inside the snow globe can’t easily detect any curvature, and therefore can’t tell the difference between anti-de Sitter and de Sitter space.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of curvature
Verb
  • That’s apt because the technological stroke that’s allowed Jamestown to revive One Times Square’s interiors is the evolution of digital screens that can slink along curving walls and respond to touch.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art’s central plaza, which spreads out beneath the building’s curved, hovering form, was always meant to be a generous civic space.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of curve
Noun
  • Rogers controlled Bellingham’s pass with his heel and slotted in from an angle.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • When the pulses met at an angle of 45 degrees, their electric fields combined in a way that made the resulting light field oscillate in all three spatial directions.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of angle
Noun
  • Ideal for those who don’t want earbuds sitting in their ear canals all day, the AeroClip is a flexible, comfortable earbud that can endure 20,000 bends and still deliver high-res bass.
    — Carlos Mejia, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The more exaggerated interpretations, with oversized collars that swallow the chin or heavy embellishment, are the ones most at risk of looking dated once the search curve bends.
    — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of bend
Noun
  • Hudson Williams’ next turn The next big thing in-the-making is Yaga, which features Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams alongside Carrie-Anne Moss in a witchy folklore drama set in a coastal town called Whittock.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Police say violations can take different forms, from drivers attempting to beat a traffic signal to drivers making a right turn without stopping as required.
    — Nina Burns, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of turn

Browse Nearby Words

arbors
arc
arcade
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Cite this Entry

“Arc.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arc. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on arc

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about arc

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