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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
El-Sayed was born in Rochester Hills, Michigan, to Egyptian immigrant parents. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 Alongside the vintage machines on the factory floor are new screens recording workflow that bear the Prada Group logo. — Luke Leitch, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
Then on Wednesday morning, Luna reunited with her owners thanks to the efforts of local rescuers, tourists and park employees, capping a survival tale that required avoiding bears and coyotes while locating enough sustenance and shelter. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 Wild Neighbor also installs surveillance along with lights and sounds to scare the bears away. — Hunter Sowards, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 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
  • New discoveries matter only if companies have the incentive and capital to bring them to market.
    — Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Fellow guard Nick Dorn (Indiana) had 8 points and six rebounds.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of have
Verb
  • In a broad open field, horses munch standing hay as Katie Baltzor watches her black angus cattle on this fall day.
    — Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Gendarmes stood guard beneath the Arc de Triomphe as shopkeepers boarded up storefronts across Paris.
    — Richard Engel, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of stand
Verb
  • Philbrick relates all this less as history than as a stage play.
    — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The project also reflects the increasing importance of reliable manufacturing capacity in industries that depend on sophisticated electronic, sensing and space-related technologies.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of relate
Verb
  • His coronation signaled where the genre was headed—away from the pleading old-guard types and toward a more fluid, hardcore hip-hop hybrid.
    — Clover Hope, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Later in the day, Obama is headed to Detroit to campaign with Democrat Senate nominee Abdul el Sayed, who is embroiled in a tight campaign against GOP candidate Mike Rogers.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of head
Verb
  • During captive-carry testing, engineers can assess equipment carried by an aircraft before proceeding to more demanding flight demonstrations.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
  • For airlines, the larger plane offers a way to carry more passengers on a single flight, potentially lowering costs per seat.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of carry
Verb
  • Until now, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has insisted the men were still alive and being held by gangs.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Boise State defense also produced a turnover-on-downs in the final minutes, batting away several shots at the end zone to hold the Cougars to 10 points.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of hold
Verb
  • The findings could help scientists understand the limits of Einstein’s theory of general relativity and investigate whether black holes can behave in ways that challenge our current understanding of the universe.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • In quantum physics, particles behave differently than us mortals.
    — Shayla Love, Vox, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of behave
Verb
  • The engine is perfectly adequate for daily driving, providing enough power to merge onto highways, navigate urban traffic, and haul the family toward its next destination.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
  • All of that material is currently hauled elsewhere for disposal, including round trips of about 200 miles to other biomass facilities.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of haul

Phrases Containing bear

Browse Nearby Words

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 27 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bear

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