to countenance

Examples

• All

• Society encourages home ownership, but does not countenance these latter dangerous activities.

  Academic text (1990)

• Second, all agreed that government interference in religious practice was not to be lightly countenanced.

  Academic text (1997)

• I will not countenance defeat.

  Cromwell (1970)

• I was the one with the shame because I could not countenance her behavior.

  Fiction book (1994)

• "Feeling that my religion was my own matter," he initially refused to "countenance such questions."

  Academic text (1991)

• Did you really think the Household would countenance such an insult?

  Victoria & Abdul (2017)

• I shall certainly not do anything to give the impression... that I countenance your behaviour.

  The House of Mirth (2000)

• The prime minister won't countenance it.

  The Professor and the Madman (2019)

• The United States government will countenance no leaks.

  The Cat from Outer Space (1978)

• But neither will I countenance any more of Charlotte's nonsense.

  Now, Voyager (1942)

Synonyms

L

to let

vsto countenance

∞ 1.0

Allow someone to do something or something to happen

is more official and implies explicit support rather than casual allowing

A

to allow

vsto countenance

∞ 1.0

To let something happen or let someone do something

is more formal, meaning official permission or support rather than mere noninterference

A

to accept

vsto countenance

996 1.3

To believe or agree that something is true

focuses more on giving formal permission or support than belief

A

to approve

vsto countenance

926 1.6

To officially agree to something or think that it is good

is about official permission or support rather than personal judgment

P

to permit

vsto countenance

441 1.5

To allow someone to do something

emphasises formal approval or backing beyond simple permission

E

to endorse

vsto countenance

366 4.2

To publicly show support for a person or idea

is broader, covering formal permission as well as public backing

S

to second

vsto countenance

• Formal

33 4.6

To give formal support to a proposal during a meeting

is wider, covering formal permission or acceptance beyond meetings

O

to O.K.

vsto countenance

4 2.3

To give permission to start or use something

is similar but also implies permitting or supporting rather than only authorising

S

to sanction

vsto countenance

• Formal

1 7.1

To give religious approval during a formal ceremony

is a general formal approval or permission without ceremonial act

A

to approbate

vsto countenance

• Formal

1 9.9

To give official permission to a plan or document by an authority

is broader formal permission or support beyond strict legal acceptance

Antonyms

O

to oppose

610 2.9

To be against something and try to stop it

P

to prohibit

171 3.3

To officially say that something is not allowed by law

D

to disapprove

80 2.9

To think something is wrong or bad and show it

How Approving

to sanction

• Formal

45 6.3

to endorse

366 4.2

to countenance

• Formal

10 8.3

to accept

∞ 1.0

to tolerate

192 3.2

to disapprove

80 2.9

to condemn

305 4.0

Surface Forms

Etymology