BEARS DOWN ON Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

bears (down on) 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bear (down on)

as in shoves

to push steadily against with some force you need to bear down on that cap a bit to get it to latch tightly

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bears down on

2 of 2

phrase

present tense third-person singular of bear down on

as in highlights

to indicate the importance of by centering attention on Our manager bore down on the need to meet upcoming deadlines.

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for bears (down on)

Verb

The video shows Ron Thompson appear to swing at Thompson, and Stephanie Daniels shoves her.

— Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 9 July 2026
Here in the famous Festival Theatre, the sprite Ariel, played in splendidly sprightly fashion by Marissa Orjalo, opens up the top of a piano, a piece of island flotsam and Prospero, in the form of the veteran actor Geraint Wyn Davies, shoves his coat inside, throws up his hands and closes the lid.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026

Definition of shoves

Verb

As for the legality of such a position, that is up for the courts to decide as the Maryland Freedom Caucus presses forward with its lawsuit.

— Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026
There, Mary presses the child’s face deep into her own with a pressure that wavers between grief and affection.

— Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of presses

Verb

Indeed, the Lorentz contraction compresses a moving object, although the contraction does not appear in a snapshot of the object.

— Aaron Shattuck, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026
Pushing on or leaning against something that compresses the belly may increase the discomfort.

— Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of compresses

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.

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“Bears (down on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bears%20%28down%20on%29. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of bears (down on)

verb

phrase

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