intolerance
Americannoun
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lack of tolerance; unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect opinions or beliefs contrary to one's own.
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unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect persons of a different social group, especially members of a minority group.
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incapacity or indisposition to bear or endure.
intolerance to heat.
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abnormal sensitivity or allergy to a food, drug, etc.
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an intolerant act.
Etymology
Origin of intolerance
From the Latin word intolerantia, dating back to 1755–65. See intolerant, -ance
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.
The case drew widespread attention and revived concerns that the department had failed to root out a culture of intolerance that led to past scandals.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026
His blind sides—inability to understand the limits of Japan’s resources, intolerance of criticism, confidence in a German victory—led Japan to disaster.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026
Heavy deployments of security forces are posted countrywide, and UN experts warned ahead of the voting of "growing intolerance, threats and attacks", and a "tsunami of disinformation".
From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026
Their intolerance has often impeded her dating life.
From Slate • Sep. 25, 2025
People gave those riders a chance to get off the bus, and they didn’t, and I’m going to face intolerance head-on as well.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
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.
