as in curves
something that curves or is curved
the stars seemed to align themselves into one vast glittering arc
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in sweeps
to turn away from a straight line or course
the ball arced toward the batter and nearly hit him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of arcs
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
As anachronisms constantly threaten to puncture the illusion, the cast stays wry, nimble and self-conscious in order to locate plot points and jokes that reinforce the golden-age radio setting, scribbling notes and introducing characters that propel them through ludicrous narrative arcs.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026
Margo writes scripts, plans costumes and makeup, blocks scenes, and dreams up plot arcs for her erotic-alien alter ego.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Sweeney's storyline didn't sit right with fans, who have watched the actress undergo similar demeaning character arcs in seasons one and two.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Auroras are typically easiest to see after full darkness sets in and before dawn, when the sky is darkest and solar particles interacting with Earth's magnetic field create glowing arcs and shimmering curtains of light.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
To the south lie the Bureau of Land Management’s Imperial Sand Dunes, where dune buggies and motorcycles trace arcs across bare slopes.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
While each episode has carefully plotted character arcs and story lines, the writing for Company Retreat extended far beyond what appears onscreen.
—Angelina Mazza, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
However much the young Hatmaker had in common with Waters, though, their lives seem likely to trace two very different arcs—ones instructive about both American Christianity and the wider debate over what a good life looks like for women.
—Emma Green, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
In doing so, the memoir arcs outward, moving from a personal reckoning with gender towards an open-ended, existential understanding for readers to grasp on their own.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Salah arcs his run to shut off the pass from centre-back Josko Gvardiol to left-back Nico O’Reilly.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
Richard Gabriel Moritz | Unsplash Many readers will know this coastline—which arcs its way from the French border in the west to Tuscany in the east, via the ancient port city of Genoa—for the five absurdly picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre.
—Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
That deeply constrains everything that occurs in the show’s first outing, which can’t see Mike, El, Dustin, Lucas, or Max grow as characters in ways that bump up against their arcs from the original show, or let the new addition Nikki (Odessa A’zion) become too firmly entrenched in their lives.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
As anachronisms constantly threaten to puncture the illusion, the cast stays wry, nimble and self-conscious in order to locate plot points and jokes that reinforce the golden-age radio setting, scribbling notes and introducing characters that propel them through ludicrous narrative arcs.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026
Margo writes scripts, plans costumes and makeup, blocks scenes, and dreams up plot arcs for her erotic-alien alter ego.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Sweeney's storyline didn't sit right with fans, who have watched the actress undergo similar demeaning character arcs in seasons one and two.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Auroras are typically easiest to see after full darkness sets in and before dawn, when the sky is darkest and solar particles interacting with Earth's magnetic field create glowing arcs and shimmering curtains of light.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
To the south lie the Bureau of Land Management’s Imperial Sand Dunes, where dune buggies and motorcycles trace arcs across bare slopes.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
While each episode has carefully plotted character arcs and story lines, the writing for Company Retreat extended far beyond what appears onscreen.
—Angelina Mazza, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
However much the young Hatmaker had in common with Waters, though, their lives seem likely to trace two very different arcs—ones instructive about both American Christianity and the wider debate over what a good life looks like for women.
—Emma Green, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
Levy arcs his character’s growing exasperation in a way that’s funny, if somewhat limited.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
In doing so, the memoir arcs outward, moving from a personal reckoning with gender towards an open-ended, existential understanding for readers to grasp on their own.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Salah arcs his run to shut off the pass from centre-back Josko Gvardiol to left-back Nico O’Reilly.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
Richard Gabriel Moritz | Unsplash Many readers will know this coastline—which arcs its way from the French border in the west to Tuscany in the east, via the ancient port city of Genoa—for the five absurdly picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre.
—Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arcs
Noun
-
An adjustable tie waistband allows for a comfortable fit while the fabric hugs the curves of your hips and flares at mid-calf for a fun, spring-ready finish.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Dispatch curves determine which plants run when, whereas reserve scheduling ensures backup capacity is always available.—
Tejasri Gururaj,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Its outstanding appeal, grandish curvatures and extraordinary interior design are just the norm for the upscale interior brand.—
Marc D. Grasso,
Boston Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Posture Changes Spine curvatures can make standing up straight difficult, causing lower right back pain.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Mahesh’s discography has evolved as a series of experiments, building out her sound from new angles without quite consolidating her full range.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
24 Apr. 2026
-
With that being said, here’s a scenario that’d make sense from multiple angles.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Grief lives most vibrantly in the periods where your life stretches and bends, the loss constant while life propels forward.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Apr. 2026
-
As the temperature drops, the cold causes the protein to shift into a more stable state in which one of its key structural pillars bends sharply, breaks away from its neighbor and straightens out.—
Jacek Krywko,
Scientific American,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The risk level for tornadoes is low and the risk for hail and strong winds is medium, forecasters said.—
Remington Miller,
Arkansas Online,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Monday’s weather features plenty of sun, light winds and some heat.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arcs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arcs. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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