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. Jonathan Swift:

   The two maxims of any great man at court are, always to keep his countenance and never to keep his work.

2. Charles Cooley:

   One who shows signs of mental aberration is, inevitably, perhaps, but cruelly, shut off from familiar, thoughtless intercourse, partly excommunicated; his isolation is unwittingly proclaimed to him on every countenance by curiosity, indifference, aversion, or pity, and in so far as he is human enough to need free and equal communication and feel the lack of it, he suffers pain and loss of a kind and degree which others can only faintly imagine, and for the most part ignore.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Marcus Tullius Cicero:

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