unbowed
Americanadjective
-
not bowed or bent.
-
not yielding or submitting, as to defeat; not subjugated.
Even when their country was occupied, the people of Norway remained unbowed.
adjective
-
not bowed or bent
-
free or unconquered
Etymology
Origin of unbowed
1325–75; Middle English; see un- 1 + bow 1 ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While Reid spoke with Bush about “the need for reconciliation” after a contentious campaign, his message for his own Democratic caucus was unbowed.
From Slate ● May 4, 2026
Shami called the talks "cowardice" and said the group's fighters remained unbowed despite being squeezed by the government and Israel.
From Barron's ● Apr. 22, 2026
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, is known for being unbowed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
His supporters, unsurprisingly, have been buoyed by both his jokes and his unbowed tone.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2025
It was vital for me to show my people and the government that I was unbroken and unbowed, and that the struggle was not over for me but beginning anew in a different form.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
