bear 1 of 2

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as in to carry
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 to haul
to support and take from one place to another the rescue team came bearing much-needed food and supplies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to lead
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 to need
to have as a requirement the violence in that country bears watching if the world wants to avoid a serious international conflict

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in to be
to occupy a place or location a hot, humid air mass is now bearing just south of the Gulf Coast

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

bear

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb bear differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bear are abide, endure, stand, suffer, and tolerate. While all these words 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

In what contexts can abide take the place of bear?

While the synonyms abide and bear are close in meaning, abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

When might endure be a better fit than bear?

While in some cases nearly identical to bear, endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

Where would stand be a reasonable alternative to bear?

In some situations, the words stand and bear are roughly equivalent. However, stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

When is suffer a more appropriate choice than bear?

The words suffer and bear are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

When can tolerate be used instead of bear?

Although the words tolerate and bear have much in common, tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

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 bear
Verb
Being constantly on the go and juggling multiple priorities bears an undeniable cost — often paid in mental clarity. Dilan Gomih, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025 The son of Italian immigrants, Repole was born and raised in Queens, N.Y., according to a 2018 interview with The New York Post. Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
The symbols are either a gold or black star shape, a gold or black circle with a star inside or in the case of California, a bear with a star. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025 The total range is 424 bears at the low end of the estimate and 1,713 at the high end. Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bear
Verb
  • Elsewhere, Colorado does have strict policies in place for its athletics Hall of Fame.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025
  • The movie set, like all others, should have only had blanks on hand, but somehow a number of live rounds made their way to the location and one such bullet ended up in the gun that went off as Hutchins and Baldwin lined up a shot in an old church.
    Marco della Cava, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Trump’s tariffs on cars, steel and aluminum are still standing, and could crush those Canadian industries.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Yet, the two artists stand together in ways that matter.
    Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Jennifer Ouellette Senior Writer Jennifer is a senior writer at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Engineering strength depends on an interpretive framework that relates forces, the size of an object and their ratio − which represents mechanical stress.
    Zachary del Rosario, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Dow is heading for its worst April since 1932, according to Dow Jones Market Data, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
    Susan Tompor, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Now, the bill heads to Trump’s desk where he’s expected to sign it into law.
    Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Macdonald-King said the new charging facility is designed to serve as a transfer point between the specialized trucks that carry freight from the port and other trucks that ply the interstate highways to the east and north.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Loading media onto the watch, even basic offline maps, is such a hassle that even Apple has resigned itself to the fact that most people will end up carrying their phone instead.
    Adrienne So, Wired News, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • At the lowest income levels, only about 13% of households held retirement accounts in 2022, according to the federal Survey of Consumer Finances.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Every child in New York deserves the chance to learn basic literacy, numeracy, science, and civics — skills essential for participating in society, holding a job, and fulfilling civic duties like voting or serving on a jury.
    David Bloomfield, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Several viewers have shared their own opinions on what the goldendoodle's decision to stay downstairs with the man means, while others have expressed how similarly their own pets behave, or poked fun at the viral moment, causing joy among viewers.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
  • The new infotainment human-machine interface was a little confusing at first; pairing my phone took about 10 minutes but worked out in the end, and wireless Apple CarPlay behaved itself throughout the week.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Everything appeared to be playing into United’s hands as the match wore on, but with 20 minutes of normal time remaining, Corentin Tolisso’s header hauled Lyon back into the contest.
    George Ramsay, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The top 2 feet of dirt at the Michigan Avenue site was scraped off and hauled away because of contamination from lead paint peelings from the houses that once stood there.
    Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bear. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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