bear 1 of 2

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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

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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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

bear

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noun

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
The ebbs and flows of the NAACP While the issue of racial equality may still be relevant, some things have changed since 1909 when the NAACP was born. Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2025 The deadly floods in Texas hit close to home for Selena Gomez, who was born and raised in the Lone Star State, and spoke out about the disaster on Instagram. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 11 July 2025
Noun
Massachusetts and New York, each with about 4,500 and 7,000 bears respectively, see less than one home entry per 100 bears each year. Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2025 As the seasons changed, her mother would remind her when panthers and bears were roaming around. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for bear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bear
Verb
  • Before the death at the house, Snow Angels had nearly no citations or issues with the state Department of Social Services, according to the business’ licensing file reviewed by the Union-Tribune.
    Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
  • Vientos was in the lineup Friday hitting fifth against right-hander Michael Wacha, who has neutral splits against righties and lefties.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • Since its founding in 1913 at Howard University, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has stood as a vanguard of leadership, scholarship, and public service.
    Shelby Stewart, Essence, 10 July 2025
  • The legislation stands to gut residential solar in particular, an industry that was already facing significant headwinds.
    Sasha Hupka, AZCentral.com, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • Among them, 42% of reported drowning deaths were vehicle related.
    Bethany Blankley, The Washington Examiner, 11 July 2025
  • The death is unrelated to a recent die-off of prairie dogs in the area, which may also be plague-related.
    Stephanie Innes, AZCentral.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • Already heading to the Midsummer Classic, Jazz Chisholm Jr. would love to take on a bigger role when Atlanta hosts All-Star festivities next week.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 9 July 2025
  • Second-round draft pick Lachlan Olbrich has been getting acquainted with Chicago before the Bulls summer league team heads to Las Vegas for Friday’s opener against the Toronto Raptors.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • Ants carry scale, aphids, and mealy bugs into fruit trees.
    Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2025
  • All six would have to make a stop to change into a long dress, don a wig, and carry a handbag filled with bricks to the finish line on Power’s stage.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • And believe it or not, plenty are genuinely comfortable, holding their own against traditional footwear.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 15 July 2025
  • Dreck is intended to highlight that rules are not alone in the regulatory universe, and urge that policymakers recognize and be held to account for the laundering of regulation by non-rule means to influence outcomes or inflict obligations, whether intentional or not.
    Clyde Wayne Crews Jr, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Because Ireland is an Anglophone country with large diasporas located in the United Kingdom and the United States, it is assumed that politics should behave a little bit like the two nations who pump so much influence back into it through the mass media produced in London, New York, and Hollywood.
    Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 11 July 2025
  • Now, another Russian satellite is behaving in the same way, with a mothership opening up to release a smaller object that could in turn reveal its own surprise inside like a Matryoshka nesting doll.
    Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • Its employees pick up furniture in its delivery vans and use a proprietary network of carriers to bring it to customers, giving it an edge over platforms where buyers need to haul furniture from the sellers’ homes.
    Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
  • You’re already loaded down with beach bags, umbrellas, coolers, sand toys, and more—and hauling all of that across the sand is notoriously difficult.
    Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 12 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bear. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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