forbearance
9 synonyms and 3 antonyms for forbearance, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An arrangement in which a lender agrees to pause or reduce a borrower's payments for a set period instead of treating the loan as in default.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
An arrangement in which a lender agrees to pause or reduce a borrower's payments for a set period instead of treating the loan as in default.
“She applied for mortgage forbearance after losing her job.”
2. noun formal
Patient self-control shown by not reacting, retaliating or enforcing a right you could enforce.
“He listened to the complaint with remarkable forbearance.”
Opposites
How to use forbearance
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
The lending sense is standard finance terminology, especially in the United States. The patience sense is formal and slightly literary.
Etymology
From the verb forbear 'to hold back, refrain', formed from the Old English prefix for- and beran 'to bear, carry', plus the noun suffix -ance.
Full origin of forbearance →