STAND Synonyms: 124 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'stand' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of stand are abide , bear , endure , suffer , and tolerate . While all these words mean "to put up with something trying or painful," stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching. // unable to stand teasing

Q: When is 'abide' a more appropriate choice than 'stand'?

Although the words abide and stand have much in common, abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest. // cannot abide their rudeness

Q: When can 'bear' be used instead of 'stand'?

The synonyms bear and stand are sometimes interchangeable, but bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking. // forced to bear a tragic loss

Q: In what contexts can 'endure' take the place of 'stand'?

While the synonyms endure and stand are close in meaning, endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties. // endured years of rejection

Q: When could 'suffer' be used to replace 'stand'?

The meanings of suffer and stand largely overlap; however, suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing. // suffering many insults

Q: When might 'tolerate' be a better fit than 'stand'?

In some situations, the words tolerate and stand are roughly equivalent. However, tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful. // refused to tolerate such treatment

stand 1 of 2

verb

ˈstand

Definition of stand

as in to sit

to occupy a place or location the monument stands in the middle of the town plaza

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to tolerate

to put up with (something painful or difficult) I don't know how you can stand that job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to pay

to give what is owed for I'll stand lunch, and you can pay me back later

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

repudiate

as in to be

to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes if the city's baseball team wins today, they will stand first in the league

Synonyms & Similar Words

stand

2 of 2

noun

as in podium

a level usually raised surface marchers passed by the reviewing stand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb stand differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of stand are abide, bear, endure, suffer, and tolerate. While all these words mean "to put up with something trying or painful," stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

When is abide a more appropriate choice than stand?

Although the words abide and stand have much in common, abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

When can bear be used instead of stand?

The synonyms bear and stand are sometimes interchangeable, but bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

In what contexts can endure take the place of stand?

While the synonyms endure and stand are close in meaning, endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

When could suffer be used to replace stand?

The meanings of suffer and stand largely overlap; however, suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

When might tolerate be a better fit than stand?

In some situations, the words tolerate and stand are roughly equivalent. However, 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 stand

Verb

Shedeur Sanders, one of the most popular college quarterbacks in the country, stood above the 5-star prep prospect from Georgia and looked down, proudly. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026 Staying away could offend the kingdom, and firms that don’t stand with Saudi Arabia now risk missing out when the economy bounces back. — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Noun

Get ahead of the trend cycle with a swirling cake stand from Fazeek, or add heritage icons, like Bordallo Pinheiro’s cabbage-ware, to your tabletop. — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026 The Surfside neighborhood, with its ice cream stands, shallow pools, and merry-go-round is built expressly for children, with face painters and balloon animal artists on hand daily and a puppet show to round out the evenings. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stand

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stand

Verb

The Tap on the Line (pictured above) is the only pub in the capital which sits directly on a tube station platform, and is one of the last remaining 19th-century stations.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
If weather permits, be sure to dine at Oliveto Restaurant & Lounge Bar, which sits beneath a shady grove of trees and overlooks the pool and vineyard.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of sit

Verb

Related Stories Lee says the film grew out of the small and large injustices people tolerate every day to avoid a fight.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Scientists have long marveled at how the human body tolerates extreme heat — and what that means for our health.

— Will Stone, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of tolerate

Verb

The Wall Street Journal reports that oil producers are paying $30 million to $40 million for round-trip shots in and out of the Strait of Hormuz.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
In most cases, bed and board have to be paid for, but there are a series of daily spending caps on different elements, such as food and hotel costs.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of pay

Noun

The California Interscholastic Federation, which oversees high school athletics, also revised its rules to ensure that transgender athletes in individual sports do not displace cisgender ones from rankings or medal podiums.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
The latest achievement for Adidas comes after the brand swept the men’s and women’s podiums in Berlin last month — the first time since 2017 that one brand was worn by all six top competitors.

— Katie Abel, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of podium

Verb

The Lincoln, which set a record for days in between ports of call, is the second carrier to endure an unusually long deployment to support the war against Iran and to receive the Presidential Unit Citation afterward.

— Julie Watson, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
The homecoming reignited controversy over conditions endured during the unusually long deployment and reports of multiple sailors attempting suicide.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of endure

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“Stand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stand. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of stand

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Synonyms of stand

verb

noun

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Phrases Containing stand

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Cite this Entry

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