Thesaurus

bear

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of bear

1 a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work

The upcoming kitchen renovation sounds like a real bear.

Synonyms of bear

beast, chore, headache, job, killer, labor

Words Related to bear

drudgery, grind, heavy lifting

effort, strain, sweat

burden, load, weight

bother, nuisance, trouble

Near Antonyms of bear

breeze, child's play, cinch, duck soup, kid stuff, setup, snap

2 an irritable and complaining person

You've been a real bear lately—are you having a bad week?

Synonyms of bear

bellyacher, complainer, crab, crank, curmudgeon, fusser, griper, grouch, grouser, growler, grumbler, grump, murmurer, mutterer, sourpuss, whiner

Words Related to bear

malcontent, sorehead

grinch, killjoy, party pooper, spoilsport

defeatist, pessimist

faultfinder, kicker, nagger, nitpicker, objector, quibbler, repiner

Near Antonyms of bear

optimist, Pollyanna

bear

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of bear

1 to bring forth from the womb

Fortunately, she turned out to be able to bear children after all.

Synonyms of bear

deliver, drop, have, mother, produce

Words Related to bear

breed, multiply, propagate, reproduce, spawn

beget, father, generate, get, sire

calve, kid, kindle, kitten, litter, pup, whelp

Phrases Synonymous with bear

give birth to

Near Antonyms of bear

abort, lose, miscarry

2 to put up with (something painful or difficult)

I can't bear the thought of losing a loved one.

Synonyms of bear

abide, absorb, accept, brook, countenance, endure, go, hack, handle, meet, pocket, stand, stick out, stomach, support, sustain, sweat out, take, tolerate

Words Related to bear

allow, permit, suffer, swallow

acquiesce, agree (with or to), assent (to), capitulate, consent (to), respect, submit (to), yield (to)

Phrases Synonymous with bear

live with, lump (it), stand for, tough out (it)

Near Antonyms of bear

decline, dismiss, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn, turn down

combat, contest, fight, oppose, resist

avoid, bypass, circumvent, dodge, elude, escape, evade, miss

abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from)

3 to have a relation or connection

I just found another fact that bears on this issue.

Synonyms of bear

appertain, apply, pertain, refer, relate

Words Related to bear

affect, concern, interest, involve, touch

associate, connect, couple, interrelate, link, tie in

deal (with), treat

Phrases Synonymous with bear

have to do with

4 to go on a specified course or in a certain direction

The road bears left after the second traffic light.

Synonyms of bear

Words Related to bear

aim, bend, direct, point, turn

beeline, light out, put, put out, set off, set out, strike, take off

face, orient, steer

about-face, back, come about, come round, cut, incline, put about, reverse, swerve, tack, turn back, veer, wheel, yaw

5 to hold up or serve as a foundation for

The wooden bridge will only bear one truck at a time.

Synonyms of bear

bolster, brace, buttress, carry, prop (up), shore (up), stay, support, sustain, undergird, underpin, uphold

Words Related to bear

steady, truss, underlie

6 to keep in one's mind or heart

I'm not one to bear grudges.

Synonyms of bear

cherish, entertain, harbor, have, hold, nurse

Words Related to bear

cultivate, foster, nurture, support, sustain

carry, keep, maintain, preserve, remember, retain, treasure

cleave (to), cling (to), hug, stick (to)

brood (about or over), fixate (on or upon), obsess (about or over)

Phrases Synonymous with bear

hang on to, hold on to

Near Antonyms of bear

disregard, drop, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook

abjure, decline, deny, disdain, refuse, reject, repudiate, scorn

abandon, desert, discard, forsake, give up, part (with), quit, renounce, throw out

7 to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way

She bore herself well in her first public speaking event.

Synonyms of bear

acquit, behave, carry, comport, conduct, demean, deport, quit

Words Related to bear

check, collect, compose, constrain, contain, control, curb, handle, inhibit, quiet, repress, restrain

moderate, modulate, temper

act, impersonate, play

Near Antonyms of bear

act up, carry on, cut up, misbehave, misconduct

8 to support and take from one place to another

The rescue team came bearing much-needed food and supplies.

Synonyms of bear

carry, cart, convey, ferry, haul, lug, pack, tote, transport

Words Related to bear

deliver, hand over, transfer

forward, send, ship, transmit

bring, fetch, take

move, remove, shift

9 to take to or upon oneself

I bear some responsibility for the mishap.

Synonyms of bear

accept, assume, shoulder, take over, undertake

Words Related to bear

adopt, embrace, take up

advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), espouse, stand by, support, uphold

accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, consent

reaccept, reassume

Near Antonyms of bear

abjure, recant, renounce, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw

decline, refuse, reject, spurn, turn down

abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from)

avoid, bypass, detour

abandon, forsake, give up, relinquish, surrender

back down, back off, backtrack

Antonyms of bear

disavow, disclaim, disown, repudiate

10 to wear or have on one's person

the right to bear arms

Synonyms of bear

Words Related to bear

flaunt, show off, sport

display, exhibit, parade, show

11 to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction

The path will bear north after that marked tree.

Synonyms of bear

extend, go, head, lead, lie, run

Words Related to bear

cross, cut, pass

course, follow, span, traverse

12 to have as a requirement

The patient's condition bears watching.

Synonyms of bear

challenge, claim, demand, necessitate, need, require, take, want, warrant

Words Related to bear

entail, involve

ask, beg, claim, clamor (for), cry (for)

hurt (for), lack

command, enjoin, exact, insist, press, quest, stipulate

Phrases Synonymous with bear

call for

Near Antonyms of bear

Antonyms of bear

13 to have within

gold-bearing ore

Synonyms of bear

boast, contain, hold

Words Related to bear

accommodate, fit, take

case, encase, enclose (also inclose), encompass

harbor, house, lodge, shelter

14 to occupy a place or location

A hot, humid air mass is now bearing just south of the Gulf Coast.

Synonyms of bear

be, lie, sit, stand

Words Related to bear

command, overlook

hang around, remain, rest, stay, stick around, tarry

15 to produce as revenue

an interest-bearing savings account

Synonyms of bear

give, pay, return, yield

Words Related to bear

afford, furnish, provide, supply

Synonym Discussion of bear

bear, suffer, endure, abide, tolerate, stand mean to put up with something trying or painful. bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

- forced to bear a tragic loss

suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

- suffering many insults

endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

- endured years of rejection

abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

- cannot abide their rudeness

tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

- refused to tolerate such treatment

stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

- unable to stand teasing

Learn More about bear

See words that rhyme with bear Dictionary: Definition of bear Medical Dictionary: Definition of bear Spanish Central: Translation of bear Nglish: Translation of bear for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bear for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bear

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up bear? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

thwart

play

to oppose successfully

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games