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as in to live
to have a home the charming fantasy that fairies abide in the cup-shaped flowers dotting the woodland floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb abide differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of abide are bear, endure, stand, suffer, and tolerate. While all these words mean "to put up with something trying or painful," abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

When is bear a more appropriate choice than abide?

The words bear and abide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

When could endure be used to replace abide?

While in some cases nearly identical to abide, endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

In what contexts can stand take the place of abide?

The meanings of stand and abide largely overlap; however, stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

When might suffer be a better fit than abide?

The synonyms suffer and abide are sometimes interchangeable, but suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

When can tolerate be used instead of abide?

The words tolerate and abide can be used in similar contexts, but tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abide Journalists who don’t abide by the policy risk losing credentials that provide access to the Pentagon. Meg Kinnard, Fortune, 21 Sep. 2025 Those who fail to abide by the rule could be suspended or have their Pentagon access revoked. Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 21 Sep. 2025 If the game had abided by old kickoff rules, the Pats likely would have settled for a touchback and not provided that exciting moment for fans, nor the momentum boost for themselves. Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 16 Sep. 2025 Reviewers’ decisions are binding and insurers must abide by them. Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abide
Verb
  • National parks appear to have weathed summer crowds despite staffing cuts, but fall remains uncertain.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Sometime Tuesday or Wednesday is the forecast for when the storms will be closest if remaining independent, and each will be due east of the coast between Wilmington in North Carolina and the state border of South Carolina and Georgia.
    Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Working to live and living to work?
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
  • After Willa’s bedroom was built onto the small house, the cottage was dressed to show the accumulation of the years the father and daughter had lived there.
    Pat Saperstein, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Kirk is being celebrated as a champion of free speech who was willing to debate anyone anywhere and who was killed by someone who could not tolerate his views.
    Louis Menand, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Surprisingly, marine life appeared to tolerate toxins like TNT and RDX.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Great Again hats and T-shirts emblazoned with Kirk’s face, ignored the registration queries and continued chatting with friends.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
  • ElAttrache recommended a shoulder debridement to relieve the pain Stewart has continued to feel in his shoulder.
    Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The nearest system of moisture is off to the west, so the Louisville area will stay dry through the weekend.
    Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
  • At 1-3 and trying to give some semblance of help to their top-notch defense and trying to stay alive in an AFC North that appears to be much more flawed than anyone thought a month ago, the Browns need a win.
    Zac Jackson, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Cookie who is believed to be a mix of a Labrador and American Staffordshire terrier is currently residing at Ingle’s in Brooklyn, New York, until she is adopted.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Now, the 35-year-old resides in Portugal's capital, Lisbon, with her partner, Swiss artist-filmmaker Tobias Madison, and their newborn child.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The event is inspired by a local legend about a great turtle forming the island long ago and celebrates the enduring nature of Mackinac Island during the quiet winter season.
    Carol Cain, Freep.com, 27 Sep. 2025
  • That usually meant going to taverns and bars, and enduring long travel days by horse and buggy.
    Ayana Archie, NPR, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Many San Diego families and local employers were thrown into a lurch during the strike, which lasted just over one week in February 1996.
    Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Utting believes a glut is on its way starting in 2030 and lasting until 2035 or so—right when VG is largely finished ramping up its incredible wave of growth.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abide. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

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