1
as in patience
the capacity to endure what is difficult or disagreeable without complaining
we thank you for your forbearance while we attend to the technical difficulties interrupting the TV program
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mercy
kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it
the judge showed forbearance, and gave the teenaged first offender a suspended sentence
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of forbearance
This includes in-school periods, post-graduation grace periods, default periods, bankruptcy periods, and any deferment and forbearance periods before the most recent consolidation of a borrower’s federal student loans.
—
Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan, which was struck down by a federal court last month, have been in forbearance since July 2024 as a legal battle played out in courts.
—Annie Ma, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Borrowers who switched to the SAVE repayment plan were in forbearance status for almost two years, not making payments while the politicians battled it out.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan, which was struck down by a federal court earlier this month, have been in forbearance since July 2024 as a legal battle played out in courts.
—CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forbearance
Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan, which was struck down by a federal court last month, have been in forbearance since July 2024 as a legal battle played out in courts.
—Annie Ma, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Borrowers who switched to the SAVE repayment plan were in forbearance status for almost two years, not making payments while the politicians battled it out.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan, which was struck down by a federal court earlier this month, have been in forbearance since July 2024 as a legal battle played out in courts.
—CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forbearance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbearance
Noun
-
The terrain can be treacherous, but the guide offered patience and grace for our entire group, slowing down without comment when someone was straggling and prioritizing water breaks.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
-
Scorpio October 23 – November 21 Scorpio, your leadership grows through patience.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Read on for their top picks, including beach-ready flip-flops and dressier styles that won't leave your feet begging for mercy.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
22 June 2026
-
Algeria found itself at the mercy of Lionel Messi who scored a wonderful hat-trick in its first game, although the Argentine forward was somewhat assisted by some terrible defending that will need to get better.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
Noun
-
It's called cognitive empathy, not to be confused with emotional empathy.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
-
In a field where founders are taught to move fast and break things, Gen Z is taking a new approach, engineering with empathy.—
Lydia T. Blanco,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forbearance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbearance. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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