bear the truth

USAGE SUMMARY

"bear the truth" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to describe a person accepting an unpleasant truth or to suggest that someone has a responsibility to tell the truth. For example, "Although it was difficult for him to bear the truth, John knew he had to be honest about what happened."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

I could never bear the truth.

The New Yorker

How much do we need not to know reality because we can't bear the truth?" Defending the psychic advantages of an electronic archive, Gemmell likes to give the example of a child who complains that his or her father, after a divorce, failed to honor his obligations.

The New Yorker

Only then can we bear the truth of our collective responsibility.

Huffington Post

While historically we have considered infertility a woman's cross to bear, the truth is that male factor infertility accounts for nearly 40percentt of all cases, with 50-60 percent attributed to a combination of male and female factors.

Huffington Post

"May this conversation bear the truth of light that helps other people see their capacity to grow.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The people of NON, raised, educated and disciplined by The pedagogy of oppression, can bear the whole truth.

Vice

Malcolm hunts down words like a hound on a fox: he can't bear the idea of the truth escaping, so he bullies and cajoles and makes vicious personal threats.

Independent

Events continue to bear out the truth of this sentiment.

The Guardian - Sport

We bear out the truth of the words of the anthropologist Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it's the only thing that ever has".

The New York Times

The numbers will bear out the truth: If developers show up to build for Windows 10, Microsoft has done its job.

TechCrunch

Considerations about how useful or valuable trust is do not bear on the truth of a trusting belief, that is, a belief in someone's trustworthiness.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "bear the truth", consider the emotional weight or responsibility associated with the truth being conveyed. This phrase is most effective when the truth is difficult or challenging to accept or communicate.

Common error

Avoid using "bear the truth" when a simpler term like "tell the truth" or "know the truth" would suffice. The verb 'bear' implies a burden or difficulty, so it's not appropriate for all contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bear the truth" functions as a verb phrase where "bear" acts as a transitive verb taking "truth" as its direct object. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and usable in written English, typically used to describe enduring or accepting an unpleasant truth.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bear the truth" is a grammatically sound phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, primarily used to describe the act of enduring, accepting, or revealing a challenging truth. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, with neutral formality. While not extremely common, its usage is consistent and understandable. Consider the emotional weight associated with the truth when using this phrase. Alternatives include "endure the truth", "reveal the truth", and "face the truth".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endure the truth

Focuses on withstanding the impact or consequences of the truth.

reveal the truth

Emphasizes the act of making the truth known.

face the truth

Highlights the act of confronting or acknowledging the truth.

accept the truth

Stresses the willingness to believe and come to terms with the truth.

shoulder the truth

Implies taking responsibility for the truth and its implications.

carry the weight of truth

Emphasizes the burden that truth can impose.

live with the truth

Focuses on the long-term process of adapting to the reality of the truth.

witness the truth

Highlights observing or experiencing the truth firsthand.

testify to the truth

Focuses on providing evidence or confirmation of the truth.

uphold the truth

Implies defending and maintaining the integrity of the truth.

FAQs

What does "bear the truth" mean?

The phrase "bear the truth" means to endure, accept, or reveal a difficult or burdensome truth. It implies a sense of responsibility or emotional weight associated with the truth.

How can I use "bear the truth" in a sentence?

You can use "bear the truth" to describe someone who is either facing a challenging truth or conveying it to others, such as, "He struggled to "bear the truth" about his past.".

What are some alternatives to "bear the truth"?

Alternatives to "bear the truth" include "endure the truth", "reveal the truth", or "face the truth", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "bear the truth" or "tell the truth"?

"Tell the truth" is a more general statement about honesty. "Bear the truth" implies a difficult or emotional aspect to the truth, suggesting it's a burden or challenge to either accept or convey.