BEAR Synonyms: 418 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

bear 1 of 2

verb

ˈber

Definition of bear next

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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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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as in to relate

to have a relation or connection I just found another fact that bears on this issue

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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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as in to carry

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

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as in to hold

to keep in one's mind or heart I'm not one to bear grudges

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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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as in to haul

to support and take from one place to another the rescue team came bearing much-needed food and supplies

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as in to assume

to take to or upon oneself I bear some responsibility for the mishap

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as in to pack

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

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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

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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

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as in to contain

to have within gold-bearing ore

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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

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bear

2 of 2

noun

ˈber

as in headache

a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work the upcoming kitchen renovation sounds like a real bear

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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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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

Meanwhile, Carpenter joked she hadn't been born at that point — neither were her parents. —

Daniela Avila, People.com, 17 Feb. 2025 The artist, whose real name was Francisca Viveros Barradas, was born in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz in 1947. —

Ivonne Valdés, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025

Noun

Rest assured, Hepburn’s legacy isn’t lost: A plaque out front bears the name of the Breakfast at Tiffany’s star. —

Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2025 In the last few years, perhaps after an adaptive mutation, bird flu has jumped to a wide number of mammal species, including seals, bears, skunks, foxes, cougars, bobcats, dolphins and even a polar bear. —

Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for bear

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bear

Verb

The Terps need to make up ground in the standings to earn the Big Ten tournament’s coveted double bye, but that’s just one benchmark for a team that has larger ones in mind.

— Taylor Lyons, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2025
Advance Publications has stakes in Warner Bros., Discovery and Reddit.

— Lucas Frau, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025