1
as in expression
facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling
a pleasant countenance that puts visitors at ease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in face
the front part of the head
a fairly pretty countenance
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in composure
evenness of emotions or temper
the EMT's purposeful countenance was in stark contrast to everyone else's hysteria
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to accept
to have a favorable opinion of
I don't countenance such behavior in children of any age
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to tolerate
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
countenanced the delays and inconveniences of traveling by air with good grace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of countenance
Adam Dietz, Big Think, 24 Feb. 2026
To defeat the threat of a surging left, businessmen and nationalists colluded to countenance domestic culture wars, xenophobic nationalism, the erosion of constitutional norms, and outright violence, ultimately naming Hitler, a vulgar racist, as national executive.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Phil Hay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Few believe Kim would countenance relinquishing his nuclear deterrence, given the fates of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, both toppled after abandoning their weapons programs.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for countenance
Noun
Cordial countenance is quiet leadership, the atmosphere shift that makes truth telling possible.
—Adam Dietz, Big Think, 24 Feb. 2026
To defeat the threat of a surging left, businessmen and nationalists colluded to countenance domestic culture wars, xenophobic nationalism, the erosion of constitutional norms, and outright violence, ultimately naming Hitler, a vulgar racist, as national executive.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Verb
What Perez, above, won’t countenance, seemingly, is ownership of the entire club passing into private hands, like City or PSG.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Few believe Kim would countenance relinquishing his nuclear deterrence, given the fates of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, both toppled after abandoning their weapons programs.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for countenance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for countenance
Noun
-
Jonathan Karis, an alumnus of Gramercy Tavern, takes the season’s bounty and coaxes it into its fullest expression — home cooking at its most virtuosic.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
The Pisces Moon supports thoughtful expression and easier communication.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Every new face who shows up to the Broncos’ rookie minicamp has their own approach to pre-draft conditioning, leaving them in various stages of physical readiness for a three-day intensive weekend of football.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
-
That’s particularly noteworthy with sloths, with faces configured in a permanently benevolent expression.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Losing his composure is not his style.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
The briefing was different in the sense that Rubio effectively answered foreign policy questions while maintaining a lighthearted, playful composure with the press corps.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Six days after the death of Georg Baselitz, his longtime dealer Thaddeaus Ropac opened an exhibition in Venice this week that the artist had already accepted would be his last.—
George Nelson,
ARTnews.com,
8 May 2026
-
In February, Ricciardi accepted a plea bargain that required him to plead guilty to three felony counts of risk of injury to a minor and one misdemeanor count of breach of peace.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Succulents are often native to hot or desert climates, and can tolerate abundant sunlight.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
12 May 2026
-
Even in the latter part of his career, at the weekly newspaper New York Observer, his writings lost none of their sting, and indeed often seemed like an unappetizing leftover from an era when sour personal swipes were more tolerated.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
An in-depth look at strategy Four of the candidates submitted op-eds to our opinion team outlining their policies.—
Teagan Davidge,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
-
For now, Northbrook Court has no plans of closing its doors, but from the looks of it, it may soon be headed toward extinction.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
In his last minutes, Segal was listening to Charlie Parker, whose visage still dominates the Showcase stage’s backdrop.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Wonder who's responsible for that glowing, makeup-free visage?—
Kaitlyn Frey,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Yet, dairy cows endure this again and again.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
-
Our unhoused population already endures too much.—
Michael Perkins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Countenance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/countenance. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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