What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Flex vs Bent - What's the difference?

flex | bent |

As a noun flex

is (uncountable) flexibility, pliancy.

As a verb flex

is to bend something.

As a proper noun bent is

.

flex

English

Noun

  • (uncountable) Flexibility, pliancy.
  • (countable) The act of flexing.
  • (uncountable, chiefly, British) Any flexible insulated electrical wiring.
  • (countable, geometry) A point of inflection.

    • Verb

    (es)
  • To bend something.
  • To repeatedly bend one of one's joints.
  • To move part of the body using one's muscles.
  • (bodybuilding) To tighten the muscles for display of size or strength.
  • * 1994 , Elise Title, Body Heat? , page 189
    • He rubbed his hands together. "Believe it or not, there was a time when I considered giving acting a go. What do you think, Miss Fox?" He flexed impressive biceps. "Would I have had a chance against the Schwarzeneggers and the Chuck Norris types?"

    Related terms

    * flexibility * flexible * flexing * flexion

    bent

    English

    Etymology 1

    From bend.

    Verb

    (head)
  • (bend)

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (Of something that is usually straight) folded, dented
  • (derogatory, colloquial, chiefly, UK) Homosexual.
  • Determined or insistent.
    • He was bent on going to Texas, but not even he could say why.
    They were bent on mischief.
  • Of a person, leading a life of crime.
  • (slang, football) inaccurate at shooting
    • That shot was so bent it left the pitch.
  • (colloquial, chiefly, US) Suffering from the bends
  • (slang) High]] from using both [[Cannabis, marijuana and alcohol.
    • Man, I am so bent right now!
    Synonyms
    * (folded) crooked * (homosexual) queer
    Derived terms
    * bent as a nine-bob note
    Related terms
    * (determined) hellbent

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An inclination or talent.
    • He had a natural bent for painting.
  • A predisposition to act or react in a particular way.
    • His mind was of a technical bent .
  • The state of being curved, crooked, or inclined from a straight line; flexure; curvity.
    • the bent of a bow
    (Wilkins)
  • A declivity or slope, as of a hill.
    • (Dryden)
  • Particular direction or tendency; flexion; course.
  • * John Locke
    • bents and turns of the matter
  • (carpentry) A transverse frame of a framed structure.
  • Tension; force of acting; energy; impetus.
  • * Norris
    • the full bent and stress of the soul
    Synonyms
    * (an inclination or talent) disposition, predilection, proclivity, propensity

    Etymology 2

    Origin uncertain. Apparently representing (etyl) (term) (attested only in place-names and personal names), cognate with Old High German binuz (modern German ).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any of various stiff or reedy grasses.
  • * Drayton
    • His spear a bent , both stiff and strong.
  • * 1888 , Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Jukes’, The Phantom ’Rickshaw and Other Tales , Folio Society 2005, p. 121:
    • Gunga Dass gave me a double handful of dried bents which I thrust down the mouth of the lair to the right of his, and followed myself, feet foremost [...].
  • * 1913 ,
    • Clusters of strong flowers rose everywhere above the coarse tussocks of bent .
  • A grassy area, grassland.
  • * The Ballad of Chevy Chase
    • Bowmen bickered upon the bent .
    English irregular past participles English irregular simple past forms ----