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bearing

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verb

present participle of bear
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as in carrying
to hold up or serve as a foundation for the wooden bridge will only bear one truck at a time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in packing
to wear or have on one's person the right to bear arms

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in leading
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction the path will bear north after that marked tree

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as in yielding
to produce as revenue an interest-bearing savings account

Synonyms & Similar Words

bearing

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun bearing contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bearing are carriage, demeanor, deportment, manner, and mien. While all these words mean "the outward manifestation of personality or attitude," bearing is the most general of these words but now usually implies characteristic posture.

a woman of regal bearing

When is it sensible to use carriage instead of bearing?

The meanings of carriage and bearing largely overlap; however, carriage applies chiefly to habitual posture in standing or walking.

the kind of carriage learned at boarding school

When could demeanor be used to replace bearing?

The synonyms demeanor and bearing are sometimes interchangeable, but demeanor suggests one's attitude toward others as expressed in outward behavior.

the haughty demeanor of the headwaiter

When might deportment be a better fit than bearing?

While in some cases nearly identical to bearing, deportment suggests actions or behavior as formed by breeding or training.

your deportment was atrocious

In what contexts can manner take the place of bearing?

While the synonyms manner and bearing are close in meaning, manner implies characteristic or customary way of moving and gesturing and addressing others.

the imperious manner of a man used to giving orders

Where would mien be a reasonable alternative to bearing?

The words mien and bearing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mien is a literary term referring both to bearing and demeanor.

a mien of supreme self-satisfaction

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bearing
Verb
Dratch also continued to giggle through lines for the rest of the sketch, and her occasional pauses to get her bearings were met with joyous applause from the SNL audience. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025 Friends commented on how much the two men resembled each other in manner and bearing. Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Because cycling is a non-weight-bearing activity, the stresses applied to our bones are minimal. U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025 Among the most notable finds are hundreds of coins bearing Cleopatra’s image, pottery dating back to her reign, and a bust believed to represent her father. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bearing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bearing
Noun
  • During a joint interview, Smith’s wife Leslie Smolan and the shows’ curator Anne Morin, who is director of diChroma Photography, discussed the relevance and impact of Smith’s work today.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The government continues to concede land, resources, and sovereignty without demanding protections or accountability—gambling on the promise of economic benefits and international relevance.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Elsewhere in the podcast, Shallow discusses her penchant for using femininity and flirtation as reality TV weapons, and how that nickname cast a shadow on her real-life relationships.
    Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Muriel’s From American Horror Story to Disney’s Princess and the Frog, New Orleans’s relationship with the otherworldly has been well documented on film and television.
    Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Cotton Incorporated Lifestyle Monitor™ Survey is an ongoing research program that measures consumer attitudes and behaviors relating to apparel, shopping, fashion, sustainability, and more.
    Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Overflowing cans and informal dumping attract wildlife and shift behavior.
    Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • There is a specific kind of yearning involved in having a crush, one that feels intense, yet is for the most part harmless fun; still, as people grow older the frequency of such infatuations often decreases.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Fans will know instantly that this child grows up to be renowned composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, and Linklater leans into that, having the pre-teenage Sondheim criticize Hart's writing.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Andersen added that the Duke’s youngest brother, Prince Edward, is also standing firmly behind the King.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Firefighters were able to save some items from inside, and despite the damage, the church remains standing.
    Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The song, which is the second track on the album, makes several references and nods to some of Taylor's famous life, while also seemingly relating them to Swift.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The Libra balanced scales also teach us that relating is a paradox.
    Colin Bedell, Them., 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • After losing to the Carolina Panthers last week by a final score of 30-27, the Cowboys hold a 2-3-1 record heading into the NFC East rivalry showdown.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Center spot may be fluid Besides the health of Ball and Miller, the other question mark the Hornets faced heading into training camp at The Citadel focused on the center position.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Police reportedly located the woman after reviewing a two-second security camera video clip, in which she was allegedly seen on a city sidewalk carrying something that appeared to be wrapped in a bundle and holding it as a person would typically hold a baby.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Both Barrett and Ingram spent some time carrying all-bench units, but those should be infrequent units so long as the Raptors are largely healthy.
    Eric Koreen, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bearing. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

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