1
as in patience
the capacity to endure what is difficult or disagreeable without complaining
we thank you for your forbearance while we attend to the technical difficulties interrupting the TV program
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mercy
kind, gentle, or compassionate treatment especially towards someone who is undeserving of it
the judge showed forbearance, and gave the teenaged first offender a suspended sentence
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forbearance
The decision to resume charging interest impacts individuals who had been assured through Department of Education communications that their balances would remain unchanged during the forbearance period.
—
Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
Nearly 8 million borrowers on the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan are now collecting interest on their loans for the first time since former President Joe Biden placed the group in forbearance in July 2024, pausing both monthly payments and interest accrual.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2025
Staying in forbearance could be costly While borrowers can stay in the forbearance, at least for now, doing so will be costly with interest accruing again as of Aug. 1.
—Annie Nova, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2025
Key Facts The Trump administration will begin charging interest on the loans starting Aug. 1, following a July 9 announcement by the Education Department, though borrowers will not have to resume making payments until the forbearance period ends.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for forbearance
Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
Nearly 8 million borrowers on the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan are now collecting interest on their loans for the first time since former President Joe Biden placed the group in forbearance in July 2024, pausing both monthly payments and interest accrual.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2025
Staying in forbearance could be costly While borrowers can stay in the forbearance, at least for now, doing so will be costly with interest accruing again as of Aug. 1.
—Annie Nova, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2025
Key Facts The Trump administration will begin charging interest on the loans starting Aug. 1, following a July 9 announcement by the Education Department, though borrowers will not have to resume making payments until the forbearance period ends.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for forbearance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbearance
Noun
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Removing facial hair is a delicate process that sounds intimidating but is easy enough for anyone to do with a little patience.—
Jennifer Chan,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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That patience will serve Williams well, according to Ulreich, who witnessed those traits last season.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In other words, a school district could be at the mercy of a single extreme individual.—
Peter Greene,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Turning the contours of Maryland’s eight congressional districts over to the whims of state legislators in Alabama, Idaho or Utah is putting the sanctity of the votes cast by hard-working Marylanders at the mercy of politicians no registered voter in Maryland has ever heard of.—
Kevin Igoe,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In the age of agentic AI, where models act with increasing autonomy, the companies that thrive will be those that remember the obvious truth often overlooked in the race for progress: intelligence may drive the engine, but empathy keeps people in the driver’s seat.—
Victor Dey,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Other board members also expressed empathy for community members who spoke during recent public comment periods, many expressing concerns about district administrators creating a toxic workplace and criticizing the recent hiring of Tremaine Harris as assistant principal of the Century Junior High.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forbearance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbearance. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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