If you say that someone has shown forbearance, you admire them for behaving in a calm and sensible way about something that they have a right to be very upset or angry about.
[formal, approval]
All the Greenpeace people behaved with impressive forbearance and dignity.
More Synonyms of forbearance
forbearance in British English
(fɔːˈbɛərəns)
noun
1.
the act of forbearing
2.
self-control; patience
3. law
abstention from or postponement of the enforcement of a legal right, esp by a creditor allowing his or her debtor time to pay
forbearance in American English
(fɔrˈbɛrəns)
noun
1.
the act of forbearing
2.
the quality of being forbearing; self-control; patient restraint
3. Law
the act by which a creditor extends time for payment of a debt or forgoes for a time the right to enforce legal action on the debt
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈpatience
Examples of 'forbearance' in a sentence
forbearance
Whether a boss shows forbearance will depend on the company and the individuals involved.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
At first, the small group showed forbearance.
Christianity Today (2000)
By loosening capital requirements and pursuing regulatory forbearance, regulators hide the problem of an insolvent bank and hope that the situation will improve.
Mishkin, Frederic S. Financial Markets, Institutions and Money (1995)
It is personal and individualistic; a game of great skill and courage, of patience and forbearance.
Andy Dougan THE HUNTING OF MAN (2004)
We have, as a nation, taken the news of our impending doom with implacable calm and forbearance.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
R3, the insolvency body, warned that many businesses were being kept alive by the forbearance of banks.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Overall, companies' balance sheets are in good health and banks are showing considerable forbearance in rolling over loans to businesses.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
1 (noun)
a high degree of tolerance and forbearance
Synonyms
patience
It's important to keep your patience in situations such as this.
resignation
restraint
tolerance
his tolerance and understanding of diverse human nature
indulgence
long-suffering
moderation
He called on all parties to show moderation.
self-control
leniency
The judge rejected pleas for leniency.
temperance
The age of hedonism was replaced by a new era of temperance.
mildness
One reason for his success was his mildness and dignity.
lenity
longanimity (rare)
Opposites
anger
,
impatience
,
intolerance
,
irritability
,
shortness
,
impetuosity
2 (noun)
forbearance from military action
Synonyms
abstinence
six months of abstinence
refraining
avoidance
tax avoidance
Additional synonyms
in the sense of avoidance
tax avoidance
Synonyms
refraining,
dodging,
shirking,
eschewal
in the sense of indulgence
Definition
liberal or tolerant treatment
Synonyms
tolerance,
understanding,
patience,
courtesy,
goodwill,
forbearance
in the sense of leniency
The judge rejected pleas for leniency.
Synonyms
mercy,
compassion,
clemency,
quarter,
pity,
tolerance,
indulgence,
tenderness,
moderation,
gentleness,
forbearance,
mildness,
lenity
Nearby words of
forbearance
forage
foray
forbear
forbearance
forbearing
forbid
forbidden
Synonyms of 'forbearance'
forbearance
Explore 'forbearance' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of mildness
One reason for his success was his mildness and dignity.
Synonyms
gentleness,
kindness,
indulgence,
tenderness,
warmth,
moderation,
tranquillity,
softness,
clemency,
leniency,
smoothness,
calmness,
blandness,
forbearance,
meekness,
docility,
placidity,
mellowness,
lenity,
temperateness
in the sense of moderation
Definition
the quality of being moderate
He called on all parties to show moderation.
Synonyms
restraint,
justice,
fairness,
composure,
coolness,
temperance,
calmness,
equanimity,
reasonableness,
mildness,
justness,
judiciousness,
sedateness,
moderateness
in the sense of temperance
Definition
restraint or moderation, esp. in yielding to one's appetites or desires
The age of hedonism was replaced by a new era of temperance.
Synonyms
moderation,
restraint,
self-control,
self-discipline,
continence,
self-restraint,
forbearance
in the sense of tolerance
Definition
the quality of accepting other people's rights to their own opinions, beliefs, or actions
his tolerance and understanding of diverse human nature