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 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
  • Not Carrying Cash During the pandemic, Japan got a lot better about accepting digital payments, but there are still lots of places that only want cold, hard cash, especially small businesses.
    — Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
  • The roughly 15-minute speech July 3 touched on his own biography while also spotlighting America's long history of accepting people from all corners of the world.
    — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of accepting
Verb
  • Some may continue tolerating the pain and wait before searching for a bank that supports a new model or exposing the company to the uncertain risks of stablecoins—assuming the use case works at all.
    — Gary Palmer, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • The Republican Party has spent years tolerating its own forms of political extremism.
    — Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2026
Definition of tolerating
Verb
  • Reframe retained a local contractor who is handling the project from permitting to landscaping.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • This long history of adaptation explains why our hands are both strong and highly precise, capable of handling everything from heavy lifting to delicate tasks.
    — Steven Lautzenheiser, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
Definition of handling
Verb
  • Its shuttering, alongside other long-standing landmarks like Taix restaurant, underscores Echo Park’s growing tension between new development and preserving neighborhood character.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Asheville’s dining scene continues to thrive, blending long-standing local favorites with a wave of exciting new openings.
    — Evan Moore July 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026
Definition of standing
Verb
  • Organizers and instructors say creating spaces to climb, learn and socialize helps Ukrainians manage stress, find community and build enduring traditions even as war keeps daily life on hold.
    — Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Together, these efforts are redefining resilience, not as leaving the ocean behind, but as restoring it while building enduring livelihoods.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
Definition of enduring
Verb
  • The Heat is also taking a patient approach in filling out its roster for next season because a few accomplished players could soon become available on the buyout market.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
  • Future solar missions are now going to have to start taking dust into account, said Ayaz, with dedicated detectors designed to measure dust's properties close to the Sun.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of taking
Verb
  • Woman died at hospital after sustaining severe injuries Three people were transported to local hospitals with severe injuries, according to police.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Commercializing fusion research NIFS’ achievements in fusion research range from sustaining plasma for 3,268 seconds to reaching temperatures over 100 million degrees Celsius.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026
Definition of sustaining

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countenances
countenancing
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Cite this Entry

“Countenancing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/countenancing. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on countenancing

Nglish: Translation of countenancing for Spanish Speakers

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