bear 1 of 2

verb

ˈber How to pronounce bear (audio)
Definition of bearnext
1
as in to have
to bring forth from the womb luckily, she turned out to be able to bear children after all

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Relevance

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2
as in to stand
to put up with (something painful or difficult) I can't bear the thought of losing another loved one

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to relate
to have a relation or connection I just found another fact that bears on this issue

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4
as in to head
to go on a specified course or in a certain direction the road bears left after the second traffic light

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5
as in to carry
to hold up or serve as a foundation for the wooden bridge will only bear one truck at a time

Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to hold
to keep in one's mind or heart I'm not one to bear grudges

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to behave
to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way she bore herself well in her first public speaking event

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in to haul
to support and take from one place to another the rescue team came bearing much-needed food and supplies

Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in to assume
to take to or upon oneself I bear some responsibility for the mishap

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in to pack
to wear or have on one's person the right to bear arms

Synonyms & Similar Words
11
as in to lead
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction the path will bear north after that marked tree

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12
as in to need
to have as a requirement the violence in that country bears watching if the world wants to avoid a serious international conflict

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13
as in to contain
to have within gold-bearing ore

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14
as in to be
to occupy a place or location a hot, humid air mass is now bearing just south of the Gulf Coast

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15
as in to yield
to produce as revenue an interest-bearing savings account

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bear

2 of 2

noun

ˈber How to pronounce bear (audio)
1
as in headache
a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work the upcoming kitchen renovation sounds like a real bear

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crab
an irritable and complaining person you've been a real bear lately—are you having a bad week?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb bear differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bear are abide, endure, stand, suffer, and tolerate. While all these words mean "to put up with something trying or painful," bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

In what contexts can abide take the place of bear?

While the synonyms abide and bear are close in meaning, abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

When might endure be a better fit than bear?

While in some cases nearly identical to bear, endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

Where would stand be a reasonable alternative to bear?

In some situations, the words stand and bear are roughly equivalent. However, stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

When is suffer a more appropriate choice than bear?

The words suffer and bear are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

When can tolerate be used instead of bear?

Although the words tolerate and bear have much in common, tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

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 bear
Verb
Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 24 May 2025 Abramović’s work has always been educationally infused with Balkan wisdom and sensibilities from her childhood — she was born in Belgrade, Serbia, then part of Yugoslavia. —Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 24 May 2025
Noun
Biologists in more than 30 states support bear hunts. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 20 May 2025 The video shows a bear trying to get the camera in its mouth as another bear watches nearby. —Brooke Baitinger, Miami Herald, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for bear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bear
  1. have
  2. stand
  3. relate
  4. head
  5. carry
  6. hold
  7. behave
  8. haul
Verb
  • As symbols of Floyd’s place in history have faded, so too have hopes for federal police reform, commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion and American optimism about the future of racial justice.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 25 May 2025
  • Only seven qualified American League hitters have a lower one.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 25 May 2025
Definition of have
Verb
  • The newcomer enrolled in tap classes, and trained fastidiously with associate choreographer Rachelle Rak, figuring out how an animated siren might walk and stand.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Bulldozers lug loads of dirt across where the concourse will soon stand.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
Definition of stand
Verb
  • Investigators suspected the two killings were related but ran out of leads and the cases went cold.
    — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 13 May 2025
  • Jennifer Ouellette Senior Writer Jennifer is a senior writer at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2025
Definition of relate
Verb
  • Brown will be able to head out on his Breezy Bowl tour, according to the conditions of his bail.
    — Charna Flam, People.com, 23 May 2025
  • Rubber outsoles provide traction for tearing up the dance floor at a wedding or heading out for a day of seeing tourist attractions, and lightly padded insoles cushion your feet with every step.
    — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2025
Definition of head
Verb
  • The powerful currents of flash floods can carry drivers off the road.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 May 2025
  • Previous studies have indicated that pure-breed cats are more likely to carry the long-type gene. Of the cats in the study, many of the mixed breed felines were former strays, suggesting that rescue cats may be more vocal.
    — Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Definition of carry
Verb
  • Manufacturing has been on the decline in the United States, with only 8% of American workers holding jobs in that sector as of earlier this year compared to roughly 26% in 1970, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, And a lot has changed since 1970.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
  • Other Watch Auctions As a point of reference, the Geneva Watch Auction: XXI, held May 10 and 11 in Switzerland, was a distinguished event with 188 lots sold, totaling $52,196,552.
    — Nancy Olson, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Definition of hold
Verb
  • Secondly, for several years the Treasury market has been behaving strangely, for reasons that have nothing to do with tariffs or trade policy.
    — George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
  • Yet another point in this episode hanging on these professionals behaving in ways that just didn’t track with their actual experience.
    — Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 23 May 2025
Definition of behave
Verb
  • Telo Trucks View 2 Images Telo's upcoming MT1 electric truck might only be as big as a two-door Mini Cooper, but it's got more than enough horses – 500, to be exact – under the hood to haul a full-size bed full of cargo.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 24 May 2025
  • At the recent Lucha practice, the girls suited up quickly in the gym and set up their practice space by hauling worn mats out from under a boxing ring.
    — Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, 17 May 2025
Definition of haul

Phrases Containing bear

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beans
bear
bearable
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Cite this Entry

“Bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bear. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bear

Nglish: Translation of bear for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bear

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