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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Example Sentences
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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
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Results arrive slowly, so patience matters more than most people expect.
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Hunting for home security that won’t torch your wallet (or your patience)?
Noun
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Read on for their top picks, including beach-ready flip-flops and dressier styles that won't leave your feet begging for mercy.
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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.
Noun
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It's called cognitive empathy, not to be confused with emotional empathy.
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In a field where founders are taught to move fast and break things, Gen Z is taking a new approach, engineering with empathy.
Cite this Entry
“Forbearance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbearance. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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