Forbearing vs. Bearing — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 18, 2024
Forbearing involves showing patience and restraint, especially in difficult situations, whereas bearing can refer to carrying or holding something, or one's demeanor.
Difference Between Forbearing and Bearing
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Forbearing is characterized by patience and self-control in the face of provocation or difficulty. Whereas, bearing can refer to how one carries themselves or something else physically or metaphorically. This difference highlights the emotional aspect of forbearing versus the more physical or attitudinal aspects of bearing.
Forbearing often implies a deliberate choice to hold back or delay responding to something irritating or challenging. On the other hand, bearing might involve enduring an imposition or carrying a burden, either literally like carrying a weight, or figuratively like bearing a responsibility.
Forbearing is generally seen as a virtue, often associated with tolerance and mercy. Whereas, bearing is more neutral and can simply describe one's manner or a task being performed without any inherent moral value.
The term forbearing is used more specifically in contexts involving interpersonal interactions where patience is required. On the other hand, bearing has broader applications, ranging from mechanical (as in the bearings of a machine) to personal traits (as in someone’s bearing).
In emotional or conflict situations, being forbearing means maintaining calm and not immediately reacting. Whereas, maintaining one’s bearing might refer to keeping composed or upholding a certain standard of behavior in various circumstances.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Showing patient self-control; restraint.
Carrying or supporting; demeanor.
Usage
Emotional restraint in difficult situations.
Physical carrying or emotional demeanor.
Connotation
Virtuous and positive.
Neutral, context-dependent.
Common Contexts
Interpersonal interactions.
Both physical tasks and personal traits.
Example Sentence
He was forbearing when criticized harshly.
Her calm bearing helped during the crisis.
Compare with Definitions
Forbearing
Tolerating annoyances without complaint.
He was forbearing with the noisy neighbors.
Bearing
The manner in which one conducts oneself.
His dignified bearing impressed the committee.
Forbearing
Showing patience and restraint.
Despite the provocation, she was forbearing.
Bearing
Relating to mechanical parts.
The engine's bearings need to be replaced.
Forbearing
Practicing self-control.
Forbearing in the meeting, she didn't respond to the jibe.
Bearing
Supporting weight or burden.
The bridge’s bearing capacity was tested.
Forbearing
Enduring challenges calmly.
She remained forbearing throughout the ordeal.
Bearing
Withstanding pressure or stress.
She is bearing the brunt of the workload.
Forbearing
Delaying responses to aggression.
His forbearing attitude diffused many conflicts.
Bearing
Direction or orientation.
The ship’s bearing was due north.
Forbearing
To keep oneself from doing something; hold back; refrain
Forbear from making a comment.
Bearing
The manner in which one carries or conducts oneself
The poise and bearing of a champion.
Forbearing
To be tolerant or patient in the face of provocation.
Bearing
A machine or structural part that supports another part.
Forbearing
To refrain from; resist
Forbore criticizing them.
Bearing
A device that supports, guides, and reduces the friction of motion between fixed and moving machine parts.
Forbearing
To restrain oneself so as not (to do something)
"He saw that she was preoccupied, and forbore to question her" (Thomas Hardy).
Bearing
Something that supports weight.
Forbearing
Forbearance; restraint
Bearing
The part of an arch or beam that rests on a support.
Forbearing
Characterized by patience and indulgence; long-suffering
A forbearing temper
Bearing
The act, power, or period of producing fruit or offspring.
Forbearing
Present participle of forbear
Bearing
The quantity produced; yield.
Forbearing
Disposed or accustomed to forbear; patient; long-suffering.
Bearing
Direction, especially angular direction measured from one position to another using geographical or celestial reference lines.
Forbearing
Showing patient and unruffled self-control and restraint under adversity; slow to retaliate or express resentment;
Seemly and forbearing...yet strong enough to resist aggression
Was longanimous in the face of suffering
Bearing
Often bearings Awareness of one's position or situation relative to one's surroundings
Lost my bearings after taking the wrong exit.
Bearing
Relevant relationship or interconnection
Those issues have no bearing on our situation.
Bearing
(Heraldry) A charge or device on a field.
Bearing
(Architecture) Designed to support structural weight
A bearing wall.
Bearing
Present participle of bear
Bearing
(in combination) That bears (some specified thing).
A gift-bearing visitor
Bearing
Of a beam, column, or other device, carrying weight or load.
That's a bearing wall.
Bearing
(mechanical engineering) A mechanical device that supports another part and/or reduces friction.
Bearing
The horizontal angle between the direction of an object and another object, or between it and that of true north; a heading or direction.
Bearing
One's understanding of one's orientation or relative position, literally or figuratively.
Do we go left here or straight on? Hold on, let me just get my bearings.
I started a new job last week, and I still haven't quite found my bearings.
Bearing
Relevance; a relationship or connection.
That has no bearing on this issue.
Bearing
One's posture, demeanor, or manner.
She walks with a confident, self-assured bearing.
Bearing
(architecture) That part of any member of a building which rests upon its supports.
A lintel or beam may have four inches of bearing upon the wall.
Bearing
(architecture) The portion of a support on which anything rests.
Bearing
The unsupported span.
The beam has twenty feet of bearing between its supports.
Bearing
(heraldry) Any single emblem or charge in an escutcheon or coat of arms.
Bearing
The manner in which one bears or conducts one's self; mien; behavior; carriage.
I know him by his bearing.
Bearing
Patient endurance; suffering without complaint.
Bearing
The situation of one object, with respect to another, such situation being supposed to have a connection with the object, or influence upon it, or to be influenced by it; hence, relation; connection.
But of this frame, the bearings and the ties,The strong connections, nice dependencies.
Bearing
Purport; meaning; intended significance; aspect.
Bearing
The act, power, or time of producing or giving birth; as, a tree in full bearing; a tree past bearing.
[His mother] in travail of his bearing.
Bearing
That part of any member of a building which rests upon its supports; as, a lintel or beam may have four inches of bearing upon the wall.
Bearing
The part of an axle or shaft in contact with its support, collar, or boxing; the journal.
Bearing
Any single emblem or charge in an escutcheon or coat of arms - commonly in the pl.
A carriage covered with armorial bearings.
Bearing
The situation of a distant object, with regard to a ship's position, as on the bow, on the lee quarter, etc.; the direction or point of the compass in which an object is seen; as, the bearing of the cape was W. N. W.
Bearing
Relevant relation or interconnection;
Those issues have no bearing on our situation
Bearing
The direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies
Bearing
Dignified manner or conduct
Bearing
Characteristic way of bearing one's body;
Stood with good posture
Bearing
Heraldry consisting of a design or image depicted on a shield
Bearing
A rotating support placed between moving parts to allow them to move easily
Bearing
(of a structural member) withstanding a weight or strain
Bearing
Producing or yielding;
An interest-bearing note
Fruit-bearing trees
Common Curiosities
What does forbearing mean in a personal context?
It refers to showing patience and restraint, particularly in challenging interpersonal situations.
Can bearing refer to emotional states?
Yes, it can refer to how someone handles emotional stress or maintains their composure.
How does forbearing impact relationships?
It generally has a positive impact, as it involves managing emotions constructively and showing tolerance.
Can forbearing be considered a weakness?
While some may perceive it as such, it is generally viewed as a strength, reflecting control and maturity.
How can someone practice being forbearing?
By practicing patience, delaying immediate reactions to provocations, and maintaining composure.
Is forbearing a common trait?
It is considered a virtue but can be challenging to maintain, making it less common in practice.
What is the difference between bearing and endurance?
Bearing can include physical support or demeanor, whereas endurance specifically refers to withstanding hardships over time.
What are typical situations where bearing is discussed?
Bearing is often discussed in contexts involving physical support, like in construction, or personal demeanor.
Is bearing always physical?
No, it can also refer to one's approach or manner, which might not involve physicality.
What skills complement forbearing?
Skills like emotional intelligence, empathy, and conflict resolution complement being forbearing.
Does bearing have technical meanings?
Yes, in engineering, it refers to parts that help in motion, like ball bearings in machinery.
How does culture influence the perception of forbearing?
Cultural values can affect how forbearing is viewed, either as a respected virtue or as less significant.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
