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as in to live
to have a home the charming fantasy that fairies abide in the cup-shaped flowers dotting the woodland floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb abide differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of abide are bear, endure, stand, suffer, and tolerate. While all these words mean "to put up with something trying or painful," abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

When is bear a more appropriate choice than abide?

The words bear and abide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

When could endure be used to replace abide?

While in some cases nearly identical to abide, endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

In what contexts can stand take the place of abide?

The meanings of stand and abide largely overlap; however, stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

When might suffer be a better fit than abide?

The synonyms suffer and abide are sometimes interchangeable, but suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

When can tolerate be used instead of abide?

The words tolerate and abide can be used in similar contexts, but tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

Examples 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 abide Jennifer Aniston does not abide by one popular health mantra. Nicholas Rice, People.com, 5 Jan. 2025 Even Seeger, Dylan’s mentor, can’t abide this revolution and threatens to cut the speakers’ wiring with an axe before being calmed by his wife. Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 3 Jan. 2025 An abiding Christian faith, in the most religious region in the nation, can also help in the construction of a winning coalition. Richard Fausset, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024 What happens to the victims is swept under the rug, but the number of traumatized, law abiding citizens paying a dear price now under that rug is becoming a ponderous digit. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 3 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for abide 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abide
Verb
  • As Alonso remains unsigned and his suitors dwindle, a surprising team could swoop in to sign him.
    Justin Gest, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Unemployment remains low and inflation has dropped below 3%, but Biden struggled to convince Americans that the turbulent times of the post-Covid era were over.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Her mother, who lives 10 minutes from the Lebanese border in northern Israel, has had to take refuge in an underground shelter amid strikes launched by Hezbollah.
    Allison Gordon, CNN, 26 Jan. 2025
  • However, there is a strain of the fungus that lives without the endosymbiont.
    Molly Herring, WIRED, 26 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • That year, the award went to Chris Pronger of the St. Louis Blues at the height of the Dead Puck Era, when obstruction was tolerated and scoring was at a premium.
    Carol Schram, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Portions of Southern California near Los Angeles remain under a red flag warning as Santa Ana winds continue to blow.
    Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
  • The companies could face some $850 billion in fines for continuing to make the app accessible to Americans.
    Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Ships docked at ports usually keep their engines running to stay operational for passengers and crew.
    Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2025
  • When winds are whipping and grey clouds are threatening, heading indoors—and staying there—leads to another annual occurrence: peak cuffing season.
    Ariel Okin, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Located about 1,300 light-years from Earth, these young stars, also known as protostars, reside in a hotbed for star formation: the Orion Nebula, which is the nearest massive star-forming region to Earth and is home to hundreds of newborn stars.
    Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Dad of two Spencer revealed on TikTok that his family is currently residing in his parent’s rental home after losing their property in the Pacific Palisades wildfire.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 20 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • This anniversary initiative shines a spotlight on its enduring legacy, with celebrated artist and cultural visionary Theaster Gates joining as a partner, cementing the store’s position at the nexus of culture and commerce.
    Cassell Ferere, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Library of Congress Over the generations, one question has endured: What, if anything, is owed to the people?
    Joseph Rushmore, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Rubio’s memo reportedly did not provide additional details about the suspension policy, including how long any such suspension periods may last.
    Samantha Riedel, Them, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Even before the first phase is completed, the fragile cease-fire agreement that has paused 15 months of war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas faces increasingly long odds of lasting or even reaching phase two.
    Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abide. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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