Synonyms for countenance
ˈkaʊn tn ənscoun·te·nance

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. countenanceverb

   Synonyms:
   approve, support, tolerate, sanction

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.0 / 2 votes

1. countenance

   Abet and instigate are now used almost without exception in a bad sense; one may incite either to good or evil. One incites or instigates to the doing of something not yet done, or to increased activity or further advance in the doing of it; one abets by giving sympathy, countenance, or substantial aid to the doing of that which is already projected or in process of commission. Abet and instigate apply either to persons or actions, incite to persons only; one incites a person to an action. A clergyman will advocate the claims of justice, aid the poor, encourage the despondent, support the weak, uphold the constituted authorities; but he will not incite to a quarrel, instigate a riot, or abet a crime. The originator of a crime often instigates or incites others to abet him in it, or one may instigate or incite others to a crime in the commission of which he himself takes no active part. Compare HELP.

   Synonyms:
   abet, advocate, aid, assist, embolden, encourage, incite, instigate, promote, sanction, support, uphold

   Antonyms:
   baffle, confound, counteract, denounce, deter, disapprove, disconcert, discourage, dissuade, expose, frustrate, hinder, impede, obstruct

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. countenanceverb

   Synonyms:
   help, aid, abet, favor, sanction, patronize, support, encourage

   Antonyms:
   oppose, confront, discourage, discountenance, browbeat

2. countenancenoun

   Synonyms:
   aid, abet, encourage, support

   Antonyms:
   discountenance

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:1.6 / 7 votes

1. countenance, visagenoun

   the appearance conveyed by a person's face

   "a pleasant countenance"; "a stern visage"

   Synonyms:
   imprimatur, kisser, mug, endorsement, indorsement, phiz, sanction, physiognomy, smiler, warrant, visage

2. sanction, countenance, endorsement, indorsement, warrant, imprimaturnoun

   formal and explicit approval

   "a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement"

   Synonyms:
   endorsement, second, stock warrant, kisser, phiz, secondment, warranty, authorization, physiognomy, sanction, warrant, mug, indorsement, blurb, guarantee, stock-purchase warrant, imprimatur, warrantee, smiler, visage, authority, authorisation

3. countenance, physiognomy, phiz, visage, kisser, smiler, mugverb

   the human face (`kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal terms for `face' and `phiz' is British)

   Synonyms:
   endorsement, kisser, osculator, phiz, physiognomy, fall guy, mark, sanction, warrant, mug, mugful, indorsement, sucker, soft touch, patsy, imprimatur, fool, smiler, visage, gull, chump

4. permit, allow, let, countenanceverb

   consent to, give permission

   "She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband"; "I won't let the police search her basement"; "I cannot allow you to see your exam"

   Synonyms:
   rent, admit, have, grant, set aside, appropriate, let, give up, reserve, tolerate, permit, provide, get, leave, allow, take into account, lease, allow for, earmark

Matched Categories

1. • Appearance

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. countenancenoun

   Synonyms:
   aspect, look, mien, expression of the face

2. countenancenoun

   Synonyms:
   favor, encouragement, patronage, support, aid, assistance, sanction, approbation, approval

3. countenanceverb

   Synonyms:
   approve, sanction, support, aid, abet, assist, favor, encourage, patronize, befriend, stand by, side with, take the side of

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. countenancenoun

   Synonyms:
   face, visage, features, support, goodwill, encouragement

2. countenanceverb

   Synonyms:
   encourage, favor, approve

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:5.0 / 1 vote

1. List of paraphrases for "countenance":

   tolerate, accept

How to pronounce countenance?

How to say countenance in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use countenance in a sentence?

1. Dax Ward:

   Mighty are the winds of time, which sweep away the despair of a broken heart, which blow back the essence of life, which refresh the soul with yet another sweet countenance.

2. Marcus Tullius Cicero:

   The countenance is the portrait of the soul, and the eyes mark its intentions.

3. William Hazlitt:

   First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible professions or studied actions. A man's look is the work of years it is stamped on his countenance by the events of his whole life, nay, more, by the hand of nature, and it is not to be got rid of easily.

4. Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

   The court today holds enforceable these arm-twisted, take-it-or-leave-it contracts — including the provisions requiring employees to litigate wages and hours claims only one-by-one. Federal labor law does not countenance such isolation of employees.

5. Timothy Head:

   They speak with a tremendous amount of conviction and resolve, and I think that Jeb's style, his personality and personal countenance is more contemplative and analytic.