tolerable

[tol-er-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. capable of being tolerated; endurable.

   His arrogance is no longer tolerable.

   Synonyms: supportable, bearable

2. fairly good; not bad.

   Synonyms: so-so, indifferent, middling, passable

3. Informal.,  in fair health.

tolerable

/ ˈtɒlərəbəl /

adjective

1. able to be tolerated; endurable

2. permissible

3. informal,  fairly good

Other Word Forms

• tolerableness noun
• tolerability noun
• tolerably adverb
• nontolerable adjective
• nontolerableness noun
• nontolerably adverb
• untolerable adjective
• untolerableness noun
• untolerably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tolerable¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin tolerābilis, equivalent to tolerā ( re ) to endure + -bilis -ble

Example Sentences

Metsera’s oral peptide, which is entering human testing, may be more effective and more tolerable.

Read more on Barron's

When the world feels chaotic, a story — however false — that names culprits and draws lines of causality can feel more tolerable than the admission that many things are beyond our control.

Read more on Salon

“It became uncomfortable, but it was tolerable, right?”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Honestly the heckling is tolerable, it's following me around the stadium that's wild," Thomas, 28, wrote in a later post.

Read more on BBC

Perhaps, if the Dodgers weren’t facing the prospect of a tight division race in this year’s talented National League West, such problems would have been more tolerable.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adequate 
• allowable 
• bearable 
• decent 
• livable 
• presentable 
• respectable 
• satisfactory 
• sufficient 
• sustainable