1
as in accepting
to have a favorable opinion of
I don't countenance such behavior in children of any age
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tolerating
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
countenanced the delays and inconveniences of traveling by air with good grace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 countenancing
The castrato was proud to call himself the boy’s father, never publicly countenancing the reality that this was impossible.
—
Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for countenancing
Verb
-
Do is serving a five-year federal prison sentence for accepting more than $550,000 in bribes to direct his share of the COVID funds to certain charities, primarily one that employed his daughter, Rhiannon.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The 20-count charging document accuses Kalshi of accepting bets on political outcomes, college sporting competitions and individual player performance in violation of Arizona's gambling laws.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Native to East Africa, this drought-tolerant plant doesn't need a lot of attention, tolerating underwatering and a variety of light conditions.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
-
For too long, Wyoming has been an outlier in tolerating extreme cruelty toward its wild carnivores.—
Wendy Keefover,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
So how are Israelis handling the Iranian onslaught, which erupted a short eight months after the previous round of hostilities concluded?—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The ship is equipped with three carbon-fiber masts standing about 226 feet tall, mounted on distinctive balestron rigs.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
-
So standing idly by while Palestinians are being beaten up by settlers is actually soldiers following orders.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Under constant surveillance from informants and prying neighbors, the pair must conceal their enduring love while navigating a society on the brink of collapse, and the promise of newfound freedom.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The Institutional Award recognizes institutions and organizations, as well as series and programs, for their enduring body of work and their lasting impact on the media landscape and the public imagination.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Charlotte won the third period 37-31 to remain ahead of Miami before taking full control of the contest in the fourth quarter.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
-
As the seconds ticked down, shaded his coverage to Mark’s left, taking away the drive.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
He was limited to just three games in 2024 after sustaining a torn patellar tendon the previous season.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Studios traditionally have offered upfront fees and residuals based upon a film’s or TV show’s earnings—sustaining payments that sometimes continue for years, based on its success.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Countenancing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/countenancing. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
