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

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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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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

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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

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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

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9
as in to assume
to take to or upon oneself I bear some responsibility for the mishap

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in to pack
to wear or have on one's person the right to bear arms

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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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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
Black holes are born when the core of a massive star collapses. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 13 Mar. 2025 Meanwhile, a 2023 report from the inspector general revealed that 18.9 million people born in 1920 or earlier had no death information in SSA records, and 44,000 of them were still receiving payments. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
One of the very not-generic spaces for the rent: Note the taxidermy bear and double pianos. —Kim Velsey, Curbed, 25 Feb. 2025 In 2024, a 72-year-old Scottish tourist vacationing in Romania with her friend was mauled by a bear through her car window while trying to capture an image. —Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 23 Feb. 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 sheriff's office has no jurisdiction over the case but sent detectives to the island to assist local investigators.
    — Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Goodman has a nervy start, with an errant pass out of play.
    — Matt Woosnam, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of have
Verb
  • Yet there the two captains of these brilliant teams stood over referee Istvan Kovacs, waiting nervously to see the outcome of the first coin toss that determined the location of the penalty shootout.
    — Gregg Evans, The Athletic, 12 Mar. 2025
  • The film begins somewhere in modern times at an American-as-apple-pie burger stand where Amziah and his band are putting on an anthemic bluegrass performance.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of stand
Verb
  • The keepers of the winter count are charged not only with recording new events but with relating the community’s history by translating the symbolized events to an oral performance.
    — Christopher T. Green, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025
  • During the sketch, Thompson called out the fact that Darius and Murphy's Morgan, who wore a shimmery red jacket and a comically large gold medallion, seemed like they might be related.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 17 Feb. 2025
Definition of relate
Verb
  • Wait for 30 minutes after the final lightning or thunder before heading outside again.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2025
  • The Mumbai show is part of a sprawling global tour that kicks off in Incheon, South Korea, before heading to Japan, India, the Middle East, and then an extensive European leg that includes stops in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, the U.K., and multiple eastern European countries.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of head
Verb
  • Butler carried the Heat to two NBA Finals appearances.
    — Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Sixty-plus years ago, the state’s water managers proposed a canal around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to complete the state project that carries water from the northern part of the state to the southern.
    — Dan Walters, Orange County Register, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of carry
Verb
  • Democrats lodged protests throughout the evening, with one member getting kicked out and others holding signs in silent opposition.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Though Los Angeles is a perennial favorite for AEW pay-per-views, Revolution 2025 marks the first time AEW has held a pay-per-view in the Crypto.com Arena.
    — Lauren Coates, Variety, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of hold
Verb
  • As a collective, the robots behaved like a material that could change shape and switch between solid and liquid states, just like the T-1000.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The default state of the Switch Axe is Axe Mode, which behaves a bit like a slightly faster Hammer with pretty good damage output and great mobility for a weapon of its size.
    — Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of behave
Verb
  • The second principle—and this is doubly important for us outdoor enthusiasts—is understanding that maintenance schedules are based on normal driving cycles, and not heavy use activities like towing, hauling a heavy camper around, or driving off-road.
    — Wes Siler, Outside Online, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Eris is designed to haul payloads of up to 672 pounds (305 kilograms) to low-Earth orbit, and will launch from Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland on Australia's northeastern coast.
    — Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of haul

Phrases Containing bear

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Cite this Entry

“Bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bear. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bear

Nglish: Translation of bear for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bear

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