What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unbend
Example
After a long day at work, I like to unbend by watching TV. [unbend: verb]
Example
It's important to unbend your mind and be open to new ideas. [unbend: verb]
Example
He carefully unbent the wire hanger to use it for a different purpose. [unbent: past tense]
unwind
Example
I like to unwind with a good book before going to bed. [unwind: verb]
Example
She carefully unwound the tangled string to use it for her project. [unwound: past tense]
Example
The party slowly unwound as guests began to leave. [unwound: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unwind is more commonly used than unbend in everyday language. Unwind is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while unbend is less common and may be used in more specific or formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between unbend and unwind?
While unbend is typically associated with a more formal tone, unwind is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.