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
Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Africa, Asia & Latin America need to be represented accordingly - as does Germany, which bears major political & financial responsibility.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Then there’s Death Valley, a desert that claims the world-record high of 134 degrees and bears geographic names like Hells Gate and Amargosa Chaos.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
But today’s San Diego — grappling with a severe housing crisis — bears little resemblance to the city of a half-century ago.
—Harry Bubbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
Bon Jovi released a video with the announcement, showing the their lead singer can still front the band that bears his name.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
The protagonist bears the name of Dostoyevsky’s son Alyosha and many of Solovyov’s traits.
—Karl Ove Knausgaard, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
The attacker bears all of the culpability; the defender, none of it.
—Oded J K Faran, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
The film bears little to no resemblance to Hart's actual life, besides the fact that Mickey Rooney, who stars as Hart, is closer in height to Hart's diminutive 5-foot stature (Rooney beat Hart by two inches).
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025
Fleishman doubted the proclamation could deter CDFW from euthanizing bears.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2025
No other bears have been caught in traps that were set up in the area, according to the release.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
Here's what to know about bears in Tennessee.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Oct. 2025
Gold bulls, bears and bugs alike have been aware that its angle of ascent looked unsustainable.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
These bears can weigh up to 1,300 pounds.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
The human body’s strategies for conserving energy have something in common with how bears enter hibernation.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
The bears' visit to Ajax Fitness, located in the downtown area, resulted in $400 worth of damage, according to Storyful.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
Aran's talent agency shared the news on Instagram, posting a photo of the teenager who bears a striking resemblance to his dad.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Africa, Asia & Latin America need to be represented accordingly - as does Germany, which bears major political & financial responsibility.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Then there’s Death Valley, a desert that claims the world-record high of 134 degrees and bears geographic names like Hells Gate and Amargosa Chaos.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
But today’s San Diego — grappling with a severe housing crisis — bears little resemblance to the city of a half-century ago.
—Harry Bubbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
Bon Jovi released a video with the announcement, showing the their lead singer can still front the band that bears his name.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
The protagonist bears the name of Dostoyevsky’s son Alyosha and many of Solovyov’s traits.
—Karl Ove Knausgaard, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
The attacker bears all of the culpability; the defender, none of it.
—Oded J K Faran, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
The film bears little to no resemblance to Hart's actual life, besides the fact that Mickey Rooney, who stars as Hart, is closer in height to Hart's diminutive 5-foot stature (Rooney beat Hart by two inches).
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
The Sequoia Park Zoo emphasized that the event did not highlight conflict between the wild bears and those in captivity, but rather a peaceful coexistence.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025
Fleishman doubted the proclamation could deter CDFW from euthanizing bears.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2025
No other bears have been caught in traps that were set up in the area, according to the release.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
Here's what to know about bears in Tennessee.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Oct. 2025
Gold bulls, bears and bugs alike have been aware that its angle of ascent looked unsustainable.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
These bears can weigh up to 1,300 pounds.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
The human body’s strategies for conserving energy have something in common with how bears enter hibernation.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
The bears' visit to Ajax Fitness, located in the downtown area, resulted in $400 worth of damage, according to Storyful.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bears
Verb
-
Every company in the Fortune 500 Europe top 10 has roots from before the Second World War.—
Adam Gale,
Fortune,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Besides being one of the best ways to stay warm, puffer jackets are also unbelievably packable, much like this Eddie Bauer down jacket that has insulation for chilly days but can be folded or rolled to practically half its size.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Other vendors include stands selling caramel apples, hot dogs, burgers, burritos and tacos.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
-
From 1844 till her death in 1922, Sarah would continue making additions to the property, which now stands at 24,000 square feet, with 160 rooms, 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors, 47 stairways and fireplaces and more.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Tie the drink’s ingredients or theme into something that pertains to the couple’s interests or history.—
Metro Creative Services,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
-
The litigation pertains to government actions in many parts of the country.—
Mark Scolforo,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As Hurricane Melissa heads toward Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, South Florida’s Jamaican community is already organizing to help.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
-
For the past 30 months, army leader al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who heads the RSF, have been fighting over control of Sudan.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The November 17th already carries considerable weight due to Cena's farewell.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The dukedom of York also carries a dark history, prompting speculation that the title itself may be unlucky, Vanity Fair reported.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Polls show Sherrill in a tight race in New Jersey, while Spanberger holds a lead in Virginia.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Broncos defensive tackle Eyioma Uwazurike was given a year-long suspension in 2023 by the NFL for betting on games, and the team holds presentations on gambling every season, head coach Sean Payton said Friday.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Dark matter behaves as a particle, and that’s fundamentally special compared to something that behaves as a field.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The research team also tested how the material behaves in salt water, one of the most challenging environments possible.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While Alex is reeling from his discovery, Dwayne attacks him and hauls him away.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Henry is surprised by the reaction of the crowd, which hauls him outside to drown him in the well for sticking his nose in clan matters.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bears. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share