1
as in expression
facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling
a pleasant countenance that puts visitors at ease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in face
the front part of the head
a fairly pretty countenance
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in composure
evenness of emotions or temper
the EMT's purposeful countenance was in stark contrast to everyone else's hysteria
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to accept
to have a favorable opinion of
I don't countenance such behavior in children of any age
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to tolerate
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
countenanced the delays and inconveniences of traveling by air with good grace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of countenance
Adam Dietz, Big Think, 24 Feb. 2026
To defeat the threat of a surging left, businessmen and nationalists colluded to countenance domestic culture wars, xenophobic nationalism, the erosion of constitutional norms, and outright violence, ultimately naming Hitler, a vulgar racist, as national executive.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Phil Hay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Few believe Kim would countenance relinquishing his nuclear deterrence, given the fates of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, both toppled after abandoning their weapons programs.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for countenance
Noun
Cordial countenance is quiet leadership, the atmosphere shift that makes truth telling possible.
—Adam Dietz, Big Think, 24 Feb. 2026
To defeat the threat of a surging left, businessmen and nationalists colluded to countenance domestic culture wars, xenophobic nationalism, the erosion of constitutional norms, and outright violence, ultimately naming Hitler, a vulgar racist, as national executive.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Verb
What Perez, above, won’t countenance, seemingly, is ownership of the entire club passing into private hands, like City or PSG.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Few believe Kim would countenance relinquishing his nuclear deterrence, given the fates of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, both toppled after abandoning their weapons programs.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for countenance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for countenance
Noun
-
In a league too often sanitized by coachspeak, facial expressions might be our last great truth serum.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
But the publishing industry is not the only place where space for free expression is dwindling in Russia.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Crow-Armstrong had a similar look on his face when that history came up again Friday.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The second group, Grand Penn Partners, is the corporate face of a plan to rebuild Penn Station as a Neo-classical complex.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Quattro system distributes power seamlessly and even on tighter downhill switchbacks, the vehicle maintained composure.—
Chris Jackson,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Mendoza wins with command, accuracy, red-zone efficiency and grown-man composure.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Policymakers, especially here in Tokyo, would be wise to accept more foreign workers to plug labor gaps, but that’s not a durable answer on its own.—
Catherine Thorbecke,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The company’s board did not accept the resignations of two of its directors who were voted out by shareholders at the company's annual meeting in January, according to an SEC filing spotted by Fortune’s Amanda Gerut.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
It would be dedicated to the heroic patience with which Americans have tolerated billionaires like him for so very long.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
If investors and consumers begin to think the Fed is willing to tolerate higher inflation, expectations of future inflation—which can be just as influential as the real thing—can drift upward, making price growth harder to contain.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Here’s a look at several of those picks.—
Phil Thompson,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Here’s a look at some of the biggest winners and losers from the second and third rounds of the draft.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Wonder who's responsible for that glowing, makeup-free visage?—
Kaitlyn Frey,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Vaccines even had a beloved national mascot in Zé Gotinha (Joe Droplet), a cartoon vaccine droplet with a Pillsbury Doughboy-like visage.—
Jessica A.J. Rich,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Derrick White, who endured his third straight brutal shooting game (3-for-12; 1-for-8 from three), set up Tatum’s dagger with one of his two fourth-quarter offensive rebounds.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
-
My mother endured hours of pain.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Countenance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/countenance. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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