as in to avoid
to resist the temptation of
she's old enough to make her own decisions, so we must forbear criticizing her taste in clothes
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Recent Examples of forbear
Some of the most outrageous scenes are between Stacy, who likes to act out, and her forbearing therapist (Will Arnett).
—
Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 4 June 2026
If Mamdani seems curiously forbearing toward Amin, given his own history, that has much to do with what happened next.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
With the economy in the doldrums, the public is less forbearing.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
American intervention in Latin America has often been premised on the condescending notion that the U.S. is a forbearing parent, the stable democracy tasked with maintaining order in its hemisphere.
—Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 30 June 2025
The book ends with a monologue from Bobby’s preternaturally wise and forbearing wife, Triona, who is puzzling over a dramatic plot development in the last chapter.
—Ann Levin, Boston Herald, 22 May 2025
The resulting combination spat out 349 hp and 391 lb-ft, enabling it to run roughly neck and neck with its iconic 300E 5.6 AMG forbear; Car and Driver recorded a 4.9 second 0-60 mph, and a quarter mile of 13.5 seconds at 105 mph, putting it neck-and-neck with a Porsche 911 Carrera of the day.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2025
As a new generation sloughed off the integrationist dreams of their Civil Rights forbears in favor of the Black Power Movement’s call for self-determination, Baraka renegotiated his position as a white literary darling and embraced a racial pride reinforced by righteous anger.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2025
The Commission has never reversed a decision to forbear in this situation.
—Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 8 Apr. 2024
Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 4 June 2026
If Mamdani seems curiously forbearing toward Amin, given his own history, that has much to do with what happened next.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
With the economy in the doldrums, the public is less forbearing.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
American intervention in Latin America has often been premised on the condescending notion that the U.S. is a forbearing parent, the stable democracy tasked with maintaining order in its hemisphere.
—Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 30 June 2025
The book ends with a monologue from Bobby’s preternaturally wise and forbearing wife, Triona, who is puzzling over a dramatic plot development in the last chapter.
—Ann Levin, Boston Herald, 22 May 2025
The resulting combination spat out 349 hp and 391 lb-ft, enabling it to run roughly neck and neck with its iconic 300E 5.6 AMG forbear; Car and Driver recorded a 4.9 second 0-60 mph, and a quarter mile of 13.5 seconds at 105 mph, putting it neck-and-neck with a Porsche 911 Carrera of the day.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2025
As a new generation sloughed off the integrationist dreams of their Civil Rights forbears in favor of the Black Power Movement’s call for self-determination, Baraka renegotiated his position as a white literary darling and embraced a racial pride reinforced by righteous anger.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2025
The Commission has never reversed a decision to forbear in this situation.
—Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 8 Apr. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbear
avoid
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from windows and avoid seeking refuge in large open rooms like cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
14 June 2026
-
Nearly 500,000 Russian soldiers have died in the war, according to some Western intelligence reports, and hundreds of thousands more have left the country to avoid being drafted.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forbear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbear. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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