1
as in has
to bring forth from the womb
luckily, she turned out to be able to bear children after all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stands
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
I can't bear the thought of losing another loved one
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pertains
to have a relation or connection
I just found another fact that bears on this issue
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in heads
to go on a specified course or in a certain direction
the road bears left after the second traffic light
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in carries
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
the wooden bridge will only bear one truck at a time
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in holds
to keep in one's mind or heart
I'm not one to bear grudges
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in behaves
to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way
she bore herself well in her first public speaking event
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in hauls
to support and take from one place to another
the rescue team came bearing much-needed food and supplies
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in shoulders
to take to or upon oneself
I bear some responsibility for the mishap
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
11
12
as in requires
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
13
14
1
as in headaches
a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work
the upcoming kitchen renovation sounds like a real bear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crabs
an irritable and complaining person
you've been a real bear lately—are you having a bad week?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 bears
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
The data from those campuses bears it out.
—
Michelle Sobel,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
During the 0-0 draw between Ecuador and Curaçao at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, locals noted online that Ecuador’s manager, Sebastián Beccacece, bears a striking resemblance to the local legal phenomenon.
—
Kansas City Star,
22 June 2026
Books arranged by hue, a ceiling tile bears signatures of students from years past and small treasures hide in corners -- each one marking a moment of pride.
—
Arkansas Online,
21 June 2026
If the Sox continue to contend, that strategy bears watching.
—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
An asteroid now bears the name of beloved musician Elliott Smith, thanks to one ambitious filmmaker.
—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
20 June 2026
In the clip, the brother bears roll around and fall over each other in the snow, using their massive claws to dig into the piles and the cold ground below.
—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Soweto, one of the oldest townships in South Africa, bears symbols of the historic day which are frequently visited by local and international tourists.
—
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
This burden—which no other legal industry bears—amplifies every force in Porter’s framework, turning thin margins into existential crises and making even modest missteps fatal.
—
Peter Su,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Stantorf warned that mountain bikers have a higher risk of encountering bears because their speed can startle the animals on the trail.
—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
20 June 2026
To compensate for winter’s period of lean rations, however, flatties gorge in spring to ease their wake-up hunger pangs and again in fall to gain weight like bears preparing for hibernation.
—
Keith Sutton,
Outdoor Life,
18 June 2026
Over the past several weeks, a string of high-profile incidents has put bears back in the national conversation.
—
Amber Harding Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
Those with particularly severe reactions may need to avoid foods made with other animal byproducts such as gelatin, which is found in marshmallows and gummy bears.
—
Matthew Perrone,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, the bears of the sky, have quite a story.
—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
14 June 2026
Verb
There are various theories, but there's a certain amount of this kind of behavior that definitely bears watching.
—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
The data from those campuses bears it out.
—
Michelle Sobel,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
During the 0-0 draw between Ecuador and Curaçao at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, locals noted online that Ecuador’s manager, Sebastián Beccacece, bears a striking resemblance to the local legal phenomenon.
—
Kansas City Star,
22 June 2026
Books arranged by hue, a ceiling tile bears signatures of students from years past and small treasures hide in corners -- each one marking a moment of pride.
—
Arkansas Online,
21 June 2026
If the Sox continue to contend, that strategy bears watching.
—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
An asteroid now bears the name of beloved musician Elliott Smith, thanks to one ambitious filmmaker.
—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
20 June 2026
In the clip, the brother bears roll around and fall over each other in the snow, using their massive claws to dig into the piles and the cold ground below.
—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Soweto, one of the oldest townships in South Africa, bears symbols of the historic day which are frequently visited by local and international tourists.
—
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Noun
Leave earbuds at home and make noise periodically so bears can avoid you.
—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
This burden—which no other legal industry bears—amplifies every force in Porter’s framework, turning thin margins into existential crises and making even modest missteps fatal.
—
Peter Su,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Stantorf warned that mountain bikers have a higher risk of encountering bears because their speed can startle the animals on the trail.
—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
20 June 2026
To compensate for winter’s period of lean rations, however, flatties gorge in spring to ease their wake-up hunger pangs and again in fall to gain weight like bears preparing for hibernation.
—
Keith Sutton,
Outdoor Life,
18 June 2026
Over the past several weeks, a string of high-profile incidents has put bears back in the national conversation.
—
Amber Harding Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
Those with particularly severe reactions may need to avoid foods made with other animal byproducts such as gelatin, which is found in marshmallows and gummy bears.
—
Matthew Perrone,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, the bears of the sky, have quite a story.
—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
14 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bears
Verb
-
Conley also has the most campaign cash, with $940,000 on hand.
-
Walking into a recording studio, Swift was seen clutching a cognac shoulder bag, and this leather version from Quince comes in the same color and has a similar silhouette.
Verb
-
Using strobes and a long exposure time to allow the maximum amount of available light to hit his lens, Cooley snags about 50 shots of the 20-foot-tall tree, which stands vigil over a street where nearly all the homes burned.
-
Attendees can enjoy lively sets before and after each screening from Cinespia’s signature DJs, along with a free photo booth, a wine bar and concession stands throughout the evening.
Verb
-
This story pertains only to women.
-
The recall pertains to some 2021-2026 Bronco Sport and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles.
Verb
-
When Colombia heads to the polls June 21, the region will be watching to see if the nation joins the right-wing surge across Latin America, with Chile, Honduras, and Costa Rica lurching to the political right over the past year.
-
This one-of-a-kind woman heads the collection founded in its day by Emile Hermès (1871–1951)—an extraordinary cabinet of curiosities whose doors are occasionally opened to a select few on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
Verb
-
Yet such an approach carries the risk of more violent swings in stock and bond prices, analysts say, and ultimately could lead to higher interest rates for consumers and businesses.
-
Fans split over who carries the blame, from the fighter and his team to the commission and the promotion.
Verb
-
An individual holds a handful of hail pellets in Waite Park, Minnesota, after storms rolled through on June 19, 2026.
-
The Entertainment Business Center in Tokyo manages more than 100 brand-IP collaborations annually and holds investment positions in more than 60 anime titles.
Verb
-
To tackle the issue, HEDI will focus on studying how matter behaves at extremely high temperatures and pressures.
-
Despite this, last month, the Illinois legislature passed HB4273, a bill that behaves as though Illinois is still living in a mild‑weather past.
Verb
-
Having already been booked for a foul on Brobbey, Fofana hauls down Wilson Isidor and earns his club’s eighth red card of the Premier League season.
-
According to the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, the Thunderbirds cost taxpayers about $35 million a year in salaries, aircraft, fuel, rehearsals and the C-17 cargo plane that hauls 50-plus support crew and spare parts to every stop on the tour.
Cite this Entry
“Bears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bears. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
