Forbearing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /fȯr-ˈber/ for·bear

Meaning & Definition of Forbearing

Forbearing (verb)

  1. to hold oneself back from especially with an effort
  2. to do without
  3. to leave alone, shun

Forbearing (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. accepting pains or hardships calmly or without complaint

    "she was inspired by the forbearing patients of the intensive care unit"

    similar: long-suffering, patient, stoic, tolerant, uncomplaining
    related: lenient, acquiescent, passive, resigned, unresistant, yielding, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, conformist, docile, law-abiding, obedient, placable, submissive, subordinate, tractable, willing, slavish, subservient, amiable, obliging, collected, composed, constrained, contained, curbed, inhibited, repressed, restrained, disciplined, self-contained, self-controlled, apathetic, uncaring, unresponsive
    opposite: complaining, fed up, impatient, kvetching, kvetchy, protesting
    near: bored, tired, weary, defiant, resistant, contrary, disobedient, insubordinate, intractable, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly

Forbearing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to resist the temptation of

    "she's old enough to make her own decisions, so we must forbear criticizing her taste in clothes"

    similar: abjuring, abstaining (from), forgoing, keeping (from), refraining (from), withholding (from)
    related: avoiding, eschewing, shunning, checking, constraining, curbing, inhibiting, denying, refusing, rejecting, repudiating, bucking, combating, fighting
    opposite: bowing (to), giving in (to), submitting (to), succumbing (to), surrendering (to), yielding (to)
    near: acquiescing (to), capitulating, conceding (to), knuckling under (to)

Related Entry: Forbear (verb)

Forbear is a different word from Forbearing. The synonyms below are for forbear, not for forbearing.

  1. to resist the temptation of

    "she's old enough to make her own decisions, so we must forbear criticizing her taste in clothes"

    similar: abjure, abstain (from), forgo, keep (from), refrain (from), withhold (from)
    related: avoid, eschew, shun, check, constrain, curb, inhibit, deny, refuse, reject, repudiate, buck, combat, fight
    opposite: bow (to), give in (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to)
    near: acquiesce (to), capitulate, concede (to), knuckle under (to)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Forbearing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Forbearing:

long-suffering, patient, stoic, tolerant, uncomplaining, abjuring, abstaining (from), forgoing, keeping (from), refraining (from), withholding (from)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Forbearing

Words with the opposite meaning of Forbearing:

complaining, fed up, impatient, kvetching, kvetchy, protesting, bowing (to), giving in (to), submitting (to), succumbing (to), surrendering (to), yielding (to)

Related Words for Forbearing

lenient, acquiescent, passive, resigned, unresistant, yielding, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, conformist, docile, law-abiding, obedient, placable, submissive, subordinate, tractable, willing, slavish, subservient, amiable, obliging, collected, composed, constrained, contained, curbed, inhibited, repressed

Near Antonyms of Forbearing

bored, tired, weary, defiant, resistant, contrary, disobedient, insubordinate, intractable, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly, acquiescing (to), capitulating, conceding (to), knuckling under (to)

Word Forms of Forbearing

Inflections: forbore, forborne

Derived words: forbearer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Forbearing

Middle English forberen, from Old English forberan to endure, do without, from for- + beran to bear

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Forbearing

What does "Forbearing" mean?

"Forbearing" means to hold oneself back from especially with an effort. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to hold oneself back from especially with an effort. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Forbearing"?

Other words for "Forbearing" include long-suffering, patient, stoic, tolerant, uncomplaining, abjuring, abstaining (from) and forgoing. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Forbearing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Forbearing"?

There are 62 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Forbearing". Common alternatives include long-suffering, patient, stoic, tolerant, uncomplaining, abjuring, abstaining (from), forgoing, keeping (from) and refraining (from).

What is the opposite of "Forbearing"?

Antonyms of "Forbearing" include complaining, fed up, impatient, kvetching, kvetchy, protesting, bowing (to) and giving in (to). Near antonyms include bored, tired, weary and defiant.

How do you use "Forbearing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Forbearing" in a sentence: "she was inspired by the forbearing patients of the intensive care unit"; "she's old enough to make her own decisions, so we must forbear criticizing her taste in clothes".

Is "Forbearing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Forbearing" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Forbearing"?

"Forbearing" is pronounced /fȯr-ˈber/ and divided into syllables as for·bear.

What is the origin of the word "Forbearing"?

"Forbearing" comes from Middle English forberen, from Old English forberan to endure, do without, from for- + beran to bear. First known use: before 12th centuryt.