FORBEARING Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

forbearing 1 of 2

adjective

as in patient

accepting pains or hardships calmly or without complaint she was inspired by the forbearing patients of the intensive care unit

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forbearing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of forbear

as in avoiding

to resist the temptation of she's old enough to make her own decisions, so we must forbear criticizing her taste in clothes

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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 forbearing

Adjective

With the economy in the doldrums, the public is less forbearing. — Jeff Kingston, Time, 4 Oct. 2025

Verb

Some of the most outrageous scenes are between Stacy, who likes to act out, and her forbearing therapist (Will Arnett). — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 4 June 2026 If Mamdani seems curiously forbearing toward Amin, given his own history, that has much to do with what happened next. — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbearing

Adjective

Those offseason moves, combined with the injuries, have withered the depth that had allowed Presti to be patient in trade negotiations during previous seasons, without feeling a need to make splashy midseason acquisitions.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2026
If the rate change takes effect in 2027, Barbosa said the center will have to cut its patient load in half, particularly affecting older patients who rely on care close to home.

— Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of patient

Verb

Kushner so far has participated little in the ceremony of the job, avoiding most receptions and ribbon cuttings.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Exercise, avoiding alcohol or even getting enough sleep aren’t the factors most connected to college students’ well-being.

— Roxanne Prichard, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of avoiding

Adjective

John McKinney, 58, who leapfrogged to a second-place finish in the primaries amid a stoic, law-and-order campaign that sometimes slipped into Spencer Pratt-style dystopian imagery.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Filson Rugged Twill Original Briefcase Not everyone wants to resemble Don Draper at the office—some men prefer the stoic, rugged vibe.

— Genevieve Cepeda, InStyle, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of stoic

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“Forbearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbearing. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of forbearing

adjective

verb

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