as in to weigh (on or upon)
to push steadily against with some force
you need to bear down on that cap a bit to get it to latch tightly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
bear down on
2 of 2phrase
as in highlight
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
Our manager bore down on the need to meet upcoming deadlines.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bear (down on)
Verb
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But there were always more pressing things to do than attend lectures or study rare manuscripts in the Radcliffe Camera, the beautiful circular reading room that’s the centerpiece of the Bodleian Library.—
Richard Godwin,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026 -
If affordability is today’s most pressing challenge, lawmakers must not confuse volume with wisdom, and instead confront the policies that continue to drive high costs and limit opportunity.—
Carol Platt Liebau,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Court documents say Stallings shoved the agent and punched him in the face.—
Ashley Grams,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
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The victim’s child had just gotten on the bus when Horne suddenly shoved the Muslim mom.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As return rates remain elevated, margins compress and fraud tactics grow more sophisticated, retailers are being forced to rethink how reverse logistics fits into their broader business strategy.—
Sourcing Journal,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Feb. 2026
-
In operation, the actuator compresses and holds the Ni-Ti tubes, causing the material to heat up.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Bear (down on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bear%20%28down%20on%29. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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