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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
The cinematic legend, who was born in The Golden State in 1938, created unforgettable characters with his athletic build, his dazzling smile, and his impressive acting chops. —Fanny Guénon Des Mesnards, Architectural Digest, 16 Sep. 2025 The wreath placed on top of the coffin included white roses, symbolizing the white rose of Yorkshire, where Katharine was born. —Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
The agency said, per NBC News, that the bear was killed in DEC’s Region 4, located in the southeastern part of New York State. —David Chiu, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025 As part of the necropsy, the bear’s stomach contents will be examined. —Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 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
  • The sensor handles up to 70Gs of acceleration and has a sensitivity of up to 30,000 dots per inch (DPI).
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The remaining 10 analysts have a hold equivalent rating.
    — Sean Conlon, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
Definition of have
Verb
  • Rico Abreu, driver of the #98 Safelite Auto Glass/Curb Records Toyota, stands on the grid during Salute to Veterans Qualifying Fueled by Texas Lottery for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Striping Technology 350 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 4, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas.
    — Lydia Mee, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Biglari’s proxy battles stand as one of the longest and most contentious activist campaigns in restaurant industry history.
    — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
Definition of stand
Verb
  • Decisions about which exemptions are made—as well as what related direct funding and tax incentives the government deploys—should be tethered to intensive monitoring of exposure to Chinese influence throughout the supply chain.
    — Joel Thayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Once siloed domains with separate toolsets, these areas are now understood to be related.
    — Bruce Kelley, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of relate
Verb
  • The schools that win will signal where education is heading — and where the opportunities lie.
    — Jaime Catmull, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • For more on the Las Vegas Raiders and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
    — Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Definition of head
Verb
  • Jadarian Price added nine carries for 74 yards and three touchdowns, plus a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown.
    — Pete Sampson, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Wide receiver Jacob De Jesus #21 of the California Golden Bears carries against the Oregon State Beavers during the first half at Reser Stadium on August 30, 2025 in Corvallis, Oregon.
    — Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Definition of carry
Verb
  • Lift the wiper arms gently and make sure they're held firmly in place.
    — Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
  • And the timing of Williams’ recent improvement may represent a good sign for the Yankees, who are still holding onto a glimmer of hope of winning the AL East while attempting to secure the first wild-card spot and homefield advantage.
    — Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Definition of hold
Verb
  • Design With Flexibility In Mind Users don’t always behave as expected, often deviating from the ideal path designers envision.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The images could help scientists further develop theories of how matter behaves in the extreme environments around supermassive black holes, which have masses of millions or even billions of suns and are found at the hearts of all large galaxies.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of behave
Verb
  • There were no pianos or love seats to haul backward up several flights of stairs, but there were plenty of boxes, clothes, books, backpacks, monitors and mini refrigerators.
    — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The replica Mercedes got purchased and hauled to Indiana.
    — Laura Lane, USA Today, 16 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 2025.

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