countenancing

verb

present participle of countenance
1
as in accepting
to have a favorable opinion of I don't countenance such behavior in children of any age

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tolerating
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

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 countenancing On that ground the United States can not properly be put in the position of countenancing a wrong after its commission any more than in that of consenting to it in advance. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2026 The castrato was proud to call himself the boy’s father, never publicly countenancing the reality that this was impossible. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for countenancing
  1. accepting
  2. tolerating
  3. handling
  4. standing
  5. enduring
  6. taking
  7. sustaining
Verb
  • At least two San Francisco home listings seen by CNN this spring said the sellers would consider accepting shares of OpenAI or Anthropic as payment.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The shelter is still accepting stray animals, Cannon said, but due to space limitations, they’re limited in their ability to accept owner surrenders.
    — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of accepting
Verb
  • As the latest chapter in the epic British-American poem known as Fleetwood Mac,Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks are back to tolerating each other’s nonsense in a sexy way.
    — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Kim Jong Il’s government accepted international food aid while increasingly tolerating informal markets as the state’s public distribution system broke down.
    — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of tolerating
Verb
  • Dickinson is very skilled at handling the puck, and often creates chances due to the combo of his skating and skill.
    — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The company has since grown into one of the largest full-service media firms in the industry, handling localization, distribution and post-production work for studios, streamers and content creators around the world.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of handling
Verb
  • In the campaign, Pugh poses wrapped in one of the brand’s camel coats in a minimalist room in front of the camera of Mario Sorrenti, who has a long-standing relationship with the fashion company.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The bloc, which had a long-standing presence inside Haiti, currently does not have a diplomat assigned to Haiti, and the only Caribbean nation that has a diplomatic presence is The Bahamas.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of standing
Verb
  • Continuously refine and embed them into onboarding, decision-making and leadership practices so institutional knowledge compounds, strengthens alignment and creates enduring organizational value.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • This unlikely combination of bad timing and documentary instinct produced an enduring symbol of resilience in the face of hardship.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of enduring
Verb
  • During this past weekend’s practice, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound receiver again worked inside with the strength staff to begin practice instead of taking reps with the wideouts.
    — Pete Sampson, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Consumers are being more proactive than ever and taking their health into their own hands.
    — Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of taking
Verb
  • For production designer Nina Ruscio, creating that world meant building an emergency department capable of sustaining the series’ relentless pace without ever feeling repetitive.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Highlighting and sharing what others are doing is key to sustaining usage.
    — Karen Dahut, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of sustaining

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countenances
countenancing
counter
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Cite this Entry

“Countenancing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/countenancing. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on countenancing

Nglish: Translation of countenancing for Spanish Speakers

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