Synonyms of forbear

forbear

verb

fȯr-ˈber 

as in to avoid

to resist the temptation of

she's old enough to make her own decisions, so we must forbear criticizing her taste in clothes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• avoid
• keep (from)
• refrain (from)
• forgo
• deny
• withhold (from)
• abstain (from)
• abjure
• refuse
• shun
• eschew
• constrain
• curb
• check
• inhibit
• repudiate
• reject
• combat
• fight
• buck

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• submit (to)
• yield (to)
• surrender (to)
• bow (to)
• give in (to)
• succumb (to)
• capitulate
• concede (to)
• acquiesce (to)
• knuckle under (to)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of forbear

Another potential problem for Carr is that Congress’s 2004 law change said the FCC cannot forbear from applying telecom regulations to TV station owners that exceed the 39 percent limit. — ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2026

Some of the most outrageous scenes are between Stacy, who likes to act out, and her forbearing therapist (Will Arnett). — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 4 June 2026

If Mamdani seems curiously forbearing toward Amin, given his own history, that has much to do with what happened next. — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025

With the economy in the doldrums, the public is less forbearing. — Jeff Kingston, Time, 4 Oct. 2025

The book ends with a monologue from Bobby’s preternaturally wise and forbearing wife, Triona, who is puzzling over a dramatic plot development in the last chapter. — Ann Levin, Boston Herald, 22 May 2025

The Commission has never reversed a decision to forbear in this situation. — Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 8 Apr. 2024

Tuesday’s proposal makes the same commitment, the people said, forbearing from 26 provisions of Title II and more than 700 other agency rules that could be seen as intrusive. — Brian Fung, CNN, 26 Sep. 2023