bearing 1 of 3

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bearing

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adjective

bearing

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verb

present participle of bear
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as in carrying
to hold up or serve as a foundation for the wooden bridge will only bear one truck at a time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in packing
to wear or have on one's person the right to bear arms

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in leading
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction the path will bear north after that marked tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in yielding
to produce as revenue an interest-bearing savings account

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun bearing contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bearing are carriage, demeanor, deportment, manner, and mien. While all these words mean "the outward manifestation of personality or attitude," bearing is the most general of these words but now usually implies characteristic posture.

a woman of regal bearing

When is it sensible to use carriage instead of bearing?

The meanings of carriage and bearing largely overlap; however, carriage applies chiefly to habitual posture in standing or walking.

the kind of carriage learned at boarding school

When could demeanor be used to replace bearing?

The synonyms demeanor and bearing are sometimes interchangeable, but demeanor suggests one's attitude toward others as expressed in outward behavior.

the haughty demeanor of the headwaiter

When might deportment be a better fit than bearing?

While in some cases nearly identical to bearing, deportment suggests actions or behavior as formed by breeding or training.

your deportment was atrocious

In what contexts can manner take the place of bearing?

While the synonyms manner and bearing are close in meaning, manner implies characteristic or customary way of moving and gesturing and addressing others.

the imperious manner of a man used to giving orders

Where would mien be a reasonable alternative to bearing?

The words mien and bearing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mien is a literary term referring both to bearing and demeanor.

a mien of supreme self-satisfaction

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 bearing
Noun
If Snow White arrives accompanied by an echo chamber of overblown online controversies, that has zero bearing on the pleasures of this 21st century update. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025 But that benefit depends heavily on Copilot understanding both your question and the answer fully, without retreating to hallucinations that could have no bearing on the actual game. Ars Technica, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
Altogether, the researchers looked at three rock slabs bearing footprints, most of which came from one slab discovered in 2002. Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025 The rapper has been on a public spiral over the past month, targeting Jews and pulling a bait-and-switch to sell t-shirts bearing a swastika on his e-store. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bearing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bearing
Noun
  • Both brands of course are staples of Hollywood fashion, outfitting stars on red carpets, debuting new pieces at fashion shows and leveraging the fame and fortune of the entertainment business to propel their own cultural relevance around the globe.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
  • His arrival sent shockwaves through collegiate sports, bringing unprecedented attention to a program that had struggled for relevance.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • These are the same individuals, former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships.
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
  • But tensions developed in their relationship, especially when people from Teotihuacán started to move into the area around Tikal.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Woman 'Unknowingly' Moves to Germany With Army Husband, Then Stays For 10 Years A third commenter penned a lengthy response critiquing the woman's behavior towards her husband.
    Erica Gerald Mason, People.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Sean Hartnoll has been analyzing the chaotic behavior found inside black holes in the hopes of coming up with a quantum theory of gravity.
    Lyndie Chiou, Wired News, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • My tailbones were sore and my legs tired after nearly three days of nonstop cycling, and the thought of having the breeze at our backs on our final day boosted my mood.
    Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
  • After having Dirk Nowitzki, a foreign superstar who stuck with the team for his entire career, the team was looking forward to another player following suit.
    Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The SpaceX Dragon vehicle carrying the four spacefarers selected for a mission known as Crew-10 successfully docked at the orbital outpost about 28 hours after launching from Florida.
    Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2025
  • But Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra insists the ethos remains, even at times such as these, with his team carrying a seven-game losing streak and 29-38 record into Monday night’s game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • This tiny spot has everything needed for relaxation—a pair of Adirondack chairs to lean back and reflect on the day and a tiny table for holding drinks and snacks.
    Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Again, this man has been holding onto so much, and things have just been compacted for him.
    Katcy Stephan, Variety, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Instead of China coming to resemble the United States, the United States is behaving more like China.
    Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Usually, a concerned parent or caregiver who may or may not know an infant has been injured becomes concerned that the child is not behaving normally.
    Lori Frasier, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Forty farmers supply this dairy, hauling milk here twice a day.
    Betsy Andrews, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Apr. 2025
  • As the largest airlifter in the American fleet, this massive aircraft plays a critical role in strategic operations—hauling troops, equipment, helicopters, and even entire military bases across continents in a single flight.
    Interesting Engineering, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bearing. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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