forbearing

F4O1R1B3E1A1R1I1N1G2

noun

forbearance; restraint

“a forbearing temper”

Similar
longanimouslongmindedindulgentliberaltolerantclementeasygoinglax
OriginMiddle English forbering →
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Meanings

forbearing1

nounforbearing (countable and uncountable, plural forbearings)

plural forbearings

  1. countableuncountableforbearance; restraint

    "As God's forbearing to create more worlds than he has, is no impeachment of his omnipotence: so his forbearing to save as many as he might, is no impeachment of his infinite mercy."

    1833, John Fletcher, The Works of the Reverend John Fletcher, volume 2, page 443

forbearing2

adjectiveforbearing (comparative more forbearing, superlative most forbearing)

comparative more forbearing · superlative most forbearing

  1. Characterized by patience and indulgence; long-suffering

    a forbearing temper

    Synonyms: longanimous, longminded, indulgent, liberal, tolerant, clement, easygoing, indulgent

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of forbear

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveCharacterized by patience and indulgence; long-suffering

Similar
longanimouslongmindedindulgentliberaltolerantclementeasygoingindulgentlaxlenientloose-handedpermissiblepermissiverelaxedremissfulsafesoftsoft-handedavuncular

More synonyms by meaning

adjectiveshowing patient and unruffled self-control and restraint under adversity; slow to retaliate or express resentment

Similar
longanimouspatient
Also see
avuncularclementindulgentkindlylaissez fairelatitudinarianlaxlenientliberallonganimousloose-handedopen-mindedpatientpermissiblepermissiverelaxedremissfulsafesoftsoft-handedsufferabletolerant

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

forbearing · noun

  1. Middle Englishforbering
  2. Englishforbearing

From Middle English forbering, forberyng, vorberinge, equivalent to forbear + -ing.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

forbearing · adjective, verb

  1. Proto-Indo-European*per-der.?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*pér
  3. Proto-Indo-European*pró
  4. Proto-Indo-European*pro-
  5. Proto-Germanic*fra-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*bʰer-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéreti
  8. Proto-Germanic*beraną
  9. Proto-Germanic*fraberaną
  10. Old Englishforberan
  11. Middle Englishforberen
  12. Englishforbear
  13. Englishforbearing

From forbear + -ing.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

forbearing. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/forbearing

MLA

“forbearing.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/forbearing. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “forbearing,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/forbearing.

Source: forbearing on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.