intolerant

[ in-tol-er-uhnt ]

adjective

1. not tolerating or respecting beliefs, opinions, usages, manners, etc., different from one's own, as in political or religious matters; bigoted.

   Synonyms: proscriptive, totalitarian, dictatorial, biased, prejudiced, narrow, illiberal

   Antonyms: liberal

2. unable or unwilling to tolerate or endure (usually followed by of ):

   intolerant of very hot weather.

3. unable to fully digest or absorb a specified food or drug (used postpositively or in combination):

   lactose intolerant; aspirin-intolerant.

noun

1. an intolerant person; bigot.

intolerant

/ ɪnˈtɒlərənt /

adjective

1. lacking respect for practices and beliefs other than one's own
2. postpositivefoll byof not able or willing to tolerate or endure

   intolerant of noise

Derived Forms

• inˈtolerantly, adverb
• inˈtolerance, noun

Other Words From

• in·toler·ant·ly adverb
• quasi-in·toler·ant adjective
• quasi-in·toler·ant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of intolerant¹

1725–35; < Latin intolerant- (stem of intolerāns ) impatient. See in- ³, tolerant

Synonym Study

Intolerant, fanatical, bigoted refer to strongly illiberal attitudes. Intolerant refers to an active refusal to allow others to have or put into practice beliefs different from one's own: intolerant in politics; intolerant of other customs. Bigoted is to be so emotionally or subjectively attached to one's own belief as to be hostile to all others: a bigoted person. Fanatical applies to unreasonable or extreme action in maintaining one's beliefs and practices without necessary reference to others: a fanatical religious sect.

Example Sentences

Additionally, new features such as the functionality introduced by Tinder to prevent LGBTQ identification being shown in the profile of users who may be travelling through intolerant nations are incredibly important.

From Washington Blade

For the lactose intolerant or butter haters, simply put a nickel on the scale.

From Popular-Science

He says and does many of the right things and is intolerant of bad behavior, which is great.

From Washington Post

He reached out to the emerging vegan food movement and to an untapped market of millions of lactose-intolerant Americans.

From Washington Post

Loeffler could also cast calls for her removal as Dream owner as a symptom of “cancel culture” intolerant of opposing views.

From Time

And the fact that satire unnerves the intolerant is evidence of its positive power.

From The Daily Beast

His policies helped engender the rise of an intolerant and severe nationalism that conflates piety with patriotism.

From The Daily Beast

Companies are also intolerant of violence in the workplace because it undermines workforce stability and hampers productivity.

From The Daily Beast

But he grew intolerant of clients tampering with his illustrations.

From The Daily Beast

She's happy to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, and those intolerant of gluten.

From The Daily Beast

His abilities the most intolerant Tories were forced grudgingly to acknowledge.

From Project Gutenberg

The tumult and license which usually characterise a general election were more than ordinarily rampant and intolerant.

From Project Gutenberg

The notion of a tyrant God can create but abject, angry, quarrelsome, intolerant slaves.

From Project Gutenberg

The Portuguese are superstitious, and are devout up to a certain point, and the clerics are exceedingly intolerant.

From Project Gutenberg

To master with more certainty her understanding, they would render her austere, intolerant, and vindictive.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• biased
• bigoted
• dictatorial
• disdainful
• dogmatic
• fanatical
• fractious
• hateful
• indignant
• irritable
• racist
• xenophobic