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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forbearance
With all of this in mind, Nevils regards the doubt that many people might feel about her story with a kind of forbearance bordering on the anthropological.
—
Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
This assistance is open to those current on their mortgage payments, behind on payments, or in forbearance.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
Hurt also flags a big wild card with all this math: A whopping 9.8 million borrowers, many of them low income and at high risk of default, are in what's called forbearance, meaning their payments are paused but their loans are accruing interest.
—Cory Turner, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
System-wide capital adequacy ratios remained above regulatory minimums only through regulatory forbearance that terminated in January 2026.
—Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forbearance
Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
This assistance is open to those current on their mortgage payments, behind on payments, or in forbearance.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
Hurt also flags a big wild card with all this math: A whopping 9.8 million borrowers, many of them low income and at high risk of default, are in what's called forbearance, meaning their payments are paused but their loans are accruing interest.
—Cory Turner, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
System-wide capital adequacy ratios remained above regulatory minimums only through regulatory forbearance that terminated in January 2026.
—Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forbearance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbearance
Noun
-
Reeves knows patience is needed for juniors new to the bigger stage.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Early on, the emotive Moon opposes firm Saturn, meaning that our plans might get caught between patience with ourselves and duties to others.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Never mind that historically, the Jews have not only wielded little control over global affairs, but have also proven to be the most at their mercy.—
Mike Rothschild,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
-
But the Salt River system is unlike the Colorado River watershed, whose reservoirs are entirely at the mercy of winter snow to replenish them.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Your empathy stays strong when boundaries and generosity travel together.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
-
His masterful short stories revolve around distinctive characters with profound empathy and acute detail.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forbearance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbearance. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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