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
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
Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for countenancing
Verb
-
Now that local leaders have cleared the way, CoreCivic can begin accepting detainees under its $60 million-a-year contract with ICE.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The charter also embraced a mission as the neighborhood school — automatically accepting all who showed up at its doors.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
How can someone build a meaningful life while tolerating discomfort within personal and systemic realities?—
Gwilym Roddick,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
-
For now, managing adenomyosis means tolerating uncertainty and making informed decisions one step at a time—much like navigating IVF.—
L'Oreal Thompson Payton,
SELF,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The man handling our caller strummed it again.—
Delbert L. Chears,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Health policy experts say the federal government's actions to withhold and defer funding break with normal fraud-handling precedent.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Atlanta Hawks had announced plans to commemorate a legendary, long-standing strip club, Magic City, at an upcoming game, and Kornet objected.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Without these two foundational pieces, the state’s national education standing will inevitably decline, and with it those envied AP scores.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Much of the buzz centered on Demna’s starry Gucci runway debut and the latest iteration of Fendi Baguette, but the real magic of Milan lies in its enduring point of view.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The 1935 movie is an enduring frustration.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And the then-new audio streaming services, like Spotify, were taking hits from creators for paying low royalty rates.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Duncanville picked up the pace in the third quarter, taking a 38-34-lead into the fourth.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
James did not play after sustaining a left elbow injury against the Nuggets.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
In the labor movements of the thirties, the civil rights movement of the sixties, and the Grenadian revolution of 1979, the poem has always been a collaborator in the work of creating and sustaining movements.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Countenancing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/countenancing. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
