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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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

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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

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

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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
But everything changes when two children are born with vision. —Keith Langston, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025 The actress was born in Smyrna, Ga., to a pair of performers who ran the only integrated theater school in the Atlanta area. —Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Noun
The first bears of 2025 have been spotted in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025 The law also prohibited the intentional feeding of bears. —John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 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
  • Downsides While apple cider vinegar has potential benefits, taking it before bed can have some downsides.
    — Johna Burdeos, Health, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Devil May Cry has this raw, untamed cool that most video games can’t touch.
    — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of have
Verb
  • But as things currently stand with the iconic Marvel villain and apparently complicated rights issues, D’Onofrio (nor anyone else) cannot play Kingpin in a feature film.
    — Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Johnson stands to gain politically from standing up to a president who is deeply unpopular in liberal Chicago.
    — Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of stand
Verb
  • Duke has an institutional climate commitment too, efforts include having over 300 climate and sustainability related classes and $3.7 million awarded in seed grants for research on climate.
    — Claire Poole, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Jennifer Ouellette Senior Writer Jennifer is a senior writer at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of relate
Verb
  • Two Michigan grandparents detained in Mexico for over a month because of a timeshare dispute are finally heading home after their daughter pleaded for their release.
    — Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Pair the trousers with this airy cap-sleeve blouse if you’re headed to the office.
    — Isabel Garcia, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of head
Verb
  • With its Astor Place bag being carried around by Posey’s character, Louis Vuitton earned $4.3 million in MIV.
    — Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The bag is comfortable to carry and made from a durable nylon fabric that can withstand heavy gear.
    — Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of carry
Verb
  • The group allegedly operated within the Northeast, targeting luxury vehicles – specifically high-end SUVs – by holding victims at gunpoint or bumping the vehicles on a highway, forcing owners to exit their cars.
    — Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Does playing Coachella hold any special significance for you?
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of hold
Verb
  • New clues from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument collaboration, known as DESI, suggest dark energy may be behaving in unexpected ways and may even be weakening over time.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
  • There are better ways to teach puppies how to behave, and one of them is rewarding good behavior rather than instilling fear.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of behave
Verb
  • While consensus across Europe is difficult to achieve, several countries have made concerted efforts to haul up their own defense budgets.
    — Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
  • On Sunday, Teichert Construction, based in Sacramento, began using trucks, front loaders and other equipment to start hauling away the main pile blocking both lanes.
    — Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2025
Definition of haul

Phrases Containing bear

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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 14 Apr. 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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