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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
Her new venture, CDP, which launched today, charts an altogether different course: a quieter, more intentional project born not out of zeitgeist, but out of personal loss, and the desire to create something enduring. Stephan Rabimov, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025 If the Court sides with the administration, some children born in the United States could be denied citizenship based on where they are born, while others would be recognized as citizens. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Noun
In California, a Real ID driver’s license can be identified by a golden bear and star symbol in the upper-right corner. Marcus D. Smith, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2025 The presentation did not mention the need for a bear hunt. Grant Gelhardt, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for bear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bear
Verb
  • The left edge is devoid of buttons, while the top has a couple of microphone holes.
    Iyaz Akhtar, PC Magazine, 13 May 2025
  • The southeast counties of Miami-Dade and Broward had the highest number of outages at over 3,000, according to the tracking website.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • The payoff on a college degree stands near its all-time high, the economists report in an April 16 post from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 10 May 2025
  • The group hasn't collected a new champion since 2014’s The Endless River, which stands as its last studio LP of original material.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • Investigators suspected the two killings were related but ran out of leads and the cases went cold.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 13 May 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • It is now headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis for approval.
    Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2025
  • Pele and Merrick each jumped to head a free kick into the box; their bodies connected in the air, with Pele saying the ball grazed his head.
    Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • In 1914, thieves managed to dislodge one of the bronze children and carry it 150 feet before abandoning the 300-pound figure.
    Michael Wells, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2025
  • The unfortunate truth is that blueberries can carry all sorts of unwanted guests, from dirt and debris, tiny bugs like aphids or fruit flies, pesticide residue, bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria, mold spores, and even parasites.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • Particularly in less densely populated parts of America, plenty of government officials and citizens still hold a grudge over the way businesses and schools were temporarily shut down.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 17 May 2025
  • The result is partial solutions that rarely hold under pressure.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • Police may switch from active pursuit when the driver is speeding or behaving erratically.
    Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
  • Advanced Protection is likely to behave the same way.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Built to haul small satellites to orbit, the rocket stands 82 feet (25 meters) tall and has an unusual design for a modern launcher, with three stages, each powered by hybrid engines burning a proprietary solid fuel mixed with a liquid oxidizer.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 May 2025
  • Equally impressive were the things people couldn’t see, like the large basement spaces where animal acts would await their turn—complete with an elevator stout enough to haul elephants.
    Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bear. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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