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

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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

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

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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

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

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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

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
Certainly John Field, the composer and pianist born in Dublin in 1782, wants to be more than a footnote. — Radhika Jones, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2026 Phillips has previously sold just two examples bearing that designation, and this pink-gold version may be unique. — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
If that caterpillar is all brown, that is likely the yellow bear caterpillar that will result in the Virginian tiger moth. — Ray Petelin, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 Bumpy, the Bear Krakatoa, Spiritum Entertainment, RTVE A playful bear turns everyday discoveries into musical learning adventures. — Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 11 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
  • At the Fondation Cartier, people will have free access to them.
    — Gameli Hamelo, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Sullivan denied that the law would cut Medicaid for Alaskans, saying the Affordable Care Act had a greater impact and raised insurance premiums in the state drastically.
    — Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of have
Verb
  • While the Broncos haven’t returned to the tournament since then, this year’s squad blends continuity with exciting new faces and stands a serious chance of bringing Boise State back to the NCAA Tournament.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 17 Oct. 2026
  • So here stood Jones, a play away from something happening against the Longhorns that felt impossible days ago.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of stand
Verb
  • His interview with O’Donnell relates his story—a faulty parachute, a tough crash, a long bloody hike, and survival until he was rescued by an American plane—in a genuinely moving way.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The high amount of overtime at the mental health department is related mainly to nurses working at the state’s mental health hospitals, Whiting and Connecticut Valley Hospital, which are both in Middletown.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of relate
Verb
  • The system provides information about an aircraft’s attitude, heading and position to flight-critical systems.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • As more shoppers and restaurants look for that kind of proof, Von Miller’s chicken farm could end up being an early example of where the meat aisle is headed.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of head
Verb
  • Over the years the retailer has carried third-party denim in its stores such as Re/Done, A GoldE and Acne.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Funding arrangements should reflect who benefits and who carries the risk.
    — Hani Assi, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of carry
Verb
  • Deep underground, iron-rich rocks could hold the key to producing hydrogen at a fraction of the cost of conventional fuels.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Firms that know exactly where the line sits hold quiet advantages their competitors cannot purchase or replicate.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of hold
Verb
  • In 1999 a group led by Austrian physicist Anton Zeilinger confirmed that fullerenes, large molecules consisting of 60 carbon atoms, behave just the same.
    — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Meet the 2026-27 Lakers, a team that will look different, sound different, feel different, play different and behave different from their recent predecessors in every way but one.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of behave
Verb
  • On fourth-and-1 from the Indiana 38, Sayin launched a play-action pass toward the end zone, and Smith leaped over everyone else to haul it in for a 38-yard touchdown that put Ohio State up 19-7.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • After a brief exchange, officers hauled him into a police vehicle and drove away.
    — Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 16 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bear

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