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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 The Dude does not abide by the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) practices. Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Oct. 2025 Advertisement Still, on July 30 Albanese announced that the video platform would also have to abide by the ban on signing up under-16-year-olds. Belinda Luscombe, Time, 8 Oct. 2025 Durant’s primary messages early in his time with Smith have been to trust himself and play without hesitation, and Smith abided by those words fairly well against the Hawks. William Guillory, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025 The power of an abiding trinity is also not lost on Winter, who will be interacting with three women in their sixties and beyond, the ardor of long lives adding dimension to the dance. Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abide
Verb
  • With more than 600 million copies of the books sold worldwide, and everything related to them continuing to do well years after the initial release of the books, one wonders how this series remains popular despite the deluge of young adult novels (and controversy) that followed it.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Yousef Obeid kicked a 25-yard field goal with just over four minutes remaining to put the Bears up for good in Murfreesboo, Tennessee.
    The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Under the agreement, accepted by both parties this week, Hamas will return all living hostages—believed to be around 20—in exchange for roughly 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and about 1,700 detainees from Gaza.
    Eric Cortellessa, Time, 11 Oct. 2025
  • In January, the US president exerted decisive pressure on Netanyahu to accept a deal that brought 30 of the living hostages and eight deceased hostages home.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Whether the rules change or not, what really matters is what investors demand — and what markets are willing to tolerate.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Cold-hardy varieties may tolerate cold, but that doesn’t mean planting them just ahead of cold weather is ideal.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • His musical talents continued to blossom after his family moved to Hot Springs.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The patients also continued to push the only available avenue for Farley to face criminal charges – lobbying for the state’s attorney general to reopen the criminal case.
    Meena Duerson, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But the business stays committed to supporting people and improving.
    Samuel Burke, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
  • If the Kings can stay healthy and consistent, they're poised to push deeper into the postseason.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Priscilla Timbers was 18 in 1775 and resided in Virginia, about 16 miles (via I-95) from the farm where George Washington spent his childhood.
    Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
  • While speaking about the inspiration for the book in a statement to PEOPLE, the author — who currently resides in Venice — reflects on his experience living in Italy for nearly a decade.
    Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • While the jury is out on the exact cause of Harry Potter’s enduring popularity, Beach and Willner highlight an important point in its favor.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 12 Oct. 2025
  • This team as a collective seemed proud of their season, triumphant in raising the bar for an organization that not long ago endured a decade-long playoff drought.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Their flight lasted less than a minute before crashing roughly a quarter-mile from the hospital’s helicopter pad.
    Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Since they’re designed to last for generations, choosing the right pan is essential when the time comes.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abide. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

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