cross to bear
noun phrase
: a problem that causes trouble or worry for someone over a long period of time
We all have our crosses to bear.
The loss was a heavy cross for her to bear.
Examples of cross to bear in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Alas, a bold act of kindness can be a terrible cross to bear in a culture that’s sustained by ambient cruelties.
—
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2025
That is the popular girl’s cross to bear, and the desperate obstinacy that comes with this realization is one of Cody’s main themes.
—Rafaela Bassili, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2024
Loss and the grief that follow are typically understood as an individual’s cross to bear.
—Cody Delistraty, TIME, 1 July 2024
Every terrible decision — by her son, by America’s financial institutions — becomes her cross to bear, and along the way, Dern goes from maternal to helpless to utterly exasperated.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 8 May 2024
The name True Detective carries a lot of weight and is a heavy cross to bear.
—Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Here, the abundance of recent coverage of both Princess Diana (for whom the crown became a cross to bear) and her younger son Harry (who renounced his title after marrying for love) give audiences ample context to appreciate what’s at stake.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 10 Aug. 2023
An overabundance can be quite a horticultural cross to bear this time of year.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 4 Aug. 2023
Her independence may just become her cross to bear.
—Jonathan Van Meter, SPIN, 8 Apr. 2023
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David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2025
That is the popular girl’s cross to bear, and the desperate obstinacy that comes with this realization is one of Cody’s main themes.
—Rafaela Bassili, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2024
Loss and the grief that follow are typically understood as an individual’s cross to bear.
—Cody Delistraty, TIME, 1 July 2024
Every terrible decision — by her son, by America’s financial institutions — becomes her cross to bear, and along the way, Dern goes from maternal to helpless to utterly exasperated.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 8 May 2024
The name True Detective carries a lot of weight and is a heavy cross to bear.
—Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Here, the abundance of recent coverage of both Princess Diana (for whom the crown became a cross to bear) and her younger son Harry (who renounced his title after marrying for love) give audiences ample context to appreciate what’s at stake.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 10 Aug. 2023
An overabundance can be quite a horticultural cross to bear this time of year.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 4 Aug. 2023
Her independence may just become her cross to bear.
—Jonathan Van Meter, SPIN, 8 Apr. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Cross to bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross%20to%20bear. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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