intolerable
Americanadjective
-
not tolerable; unendurable; insufferable.
intolerable pain.
- Synonyms:
- insupportable, unbearable
- Antonyms:
- endurable
adjective
-
more than can be tolerated or endured; insufferable
-
informal extremely irritating or annoying
Other Word Forms
- intolerability noun
- intolerableness noun
- intolerably adverb
- quasi-intolerable adjective
- quasi-intolerably adverb
- superintolerable adjective
- superintolerableness noun
- superintolerably adverb
Etymology
Origin of intolerable
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word intolerābilis. See in- 3, tolerable
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Such arbitrary suspensions make an already intolerable situation even worse for the people of Gaza," he said.
From Barron's
The head of a leading disability rights charity turned down an MBE in the New Year Honours over what she described as the "simply intolerable" situation facing disabled people in the UK.
From BBC
"It was intolerable. You can't really concentrate, you're sweating, you feel sick. I stumbled into the chemists next door to the hotel, then collapsed."
From BBC
Questioned on the leaks by the chair of the Liaison Committee Dame Meg Hillier, Sir Keir said they were "intolerable" and an investigation into the leaks around the Budget was under way.
From BBC
That is an intolerable risk for a superpower.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
