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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

Relevance

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
  • Taylor Swift gave an emotional speech while accepting the award for Video of the Year at the MTV VMAs on September 27.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The page includes several posts criticizing Krell for accepting campaign donations and states that Singh will not accept special interest funds of any kind.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of accepting
Verb
  • The next era of leadership is not about tolerating relentless pressure.
    — J.K. Dickinson, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • His warning was meant for American eyes and ears at least as much — if not more so — than for the government in Jerusalem that until now has encouraged the hoodlums by tolerating their violence.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of tolerating
Verb
  • For people outside of these sensitive groups, handling a receipt is probably a very low-risk activity.
    — Sean McCann, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Equipped with custom tactile grippers for handling automotive components, the robot boasts 56 total degrees of freedom.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of handling
Verb
  • The headquarters builds on Daimler Truck’s long-standing presence in the Carolinas, where Daimler Truck North America and Daimler Truck Financial Services employ about 9,000 people.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 29 Sep. 2026
  • There are no emotions in it, only our own cold and cruel fears reflected back at us, as with a shot of Cruise standing defiantly in front of a mirror rimmed by antlers.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of standing
Verb
  • Its message of walking away from unnecessary conflict adds substance to the song’s explosive production and enduring sense of momentum.
    — qygwork, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Vogue’s coverage points to the enduring appeal of ’90s supermodel beauty, built around a balance between bold and natural elements that still holds up in 2026.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of enduring
Verb
  • Every Washington Nationals player filtered into the news conference room at Nationals Park on Friday afternoon, taking their seats among Cade Cavalli’s family, team ownership and staff members.
    — Danielle Allentuck, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Martha and her mother Maria Alberto Gonzalez and his wife, Catalina Gonzalez, remember taking two buses and a train from their home on the North Side to get to the restaurant in the late 1960s.
    — Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of taking
Verb
  • Arneson’s son was left orphaned and is now being raised by his grandparents after sustaining minor injuries in the crash, according to the Loveland Reporter-Herald.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Expanding shipyard capacity without sustaining the suppliers is unlikely to deliver the fleet the nation needs.
    — George Whittier, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of sustaining

Browse Nearby Words

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 30 Sep. 2026.

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