The antonyms for "bending to will" are resisting, opposing, defying, contesting, and contradicting. When someone is "bending to will," they are submitting to the will or desires of another person, compromising their own wants and needs. On the other hand, resisting, opposing, or defying means standing up to someone else's will or opinion and sticking to one's guns. Contesting and contradicting refer to actively challenging or questioning the will of another, refusing to agree or comply. All of these antonyms involve maintaining one's own autonomy and refusing to be controlled or manipulated.