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

Derived Forms

• ˈtolerableness, noun
• ˈtolerably, adverb

Other Words From

• toler·a·ble·ness toler·a·bili·ty noun
• toler·a·bly adverb
• non·toler·a·ble adjective
• non·toler·a·ble·ness noun
• non·toler·a·bly adverb
• un·toler·a·ble adjective
• un·toler·a·ble·ness noun
• un·toler·a·bly 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

Widespread harassment would not be seen as a tolerable price women have to pay, but as an unacceptable sign of failure.

From MIT Technology Review

I think the questions of will they have side effects, will the vaccine be tolerable to children, and do we need to use a smaller dose in young kids, are the biggest things.

From Time

An amateur can make a tolerable igloo if they are good with their hands and have a sense of geometry, but they’ll never make an igloo like one made by someone who practices these skills regularly.

From Popular-Science

Sunshine is in abundance and winds are light, making highs in the mid- to upper 50s tolerable.

From Washington Post

Luckily, I do at least have something that mitigates the situation to the level of tolerable.

From Eater

Yes, I was still sick, but it made everything just a little more tolerable, and every little bit helps in that position.

From The Daily Beast

All that would be tolerable if he were an arrogant jerk, or just plain dumb.

From The Daily Beast

What is typically omitted from this story for the sake of a tolerable holiday celebration is a little historical context.

From The Daily Beast

Will Ferrell, in all his green-suited glory, and a tolerable Zooey Deschanel changed our lives ten years ago.

From The Daily Beast

At a pitch I could be a tolerable road-sweeper or an inefficient gardener or even a tenth-rate farm hand.

From The Daily Beast

An' I'm here t' declare that it's plumb foolish t' mix things with that layout till we can see t' shoot tolerable straight.

From Project Gutenberg

In a few minutes, a smart little man, speaking tolerable French, came and told me the government desired my company.

From Project Gutenberg

The actors are very bad as such, and little better as singers; but the orchestra is very tolerable.

From Project Gutenberg

Three sides are modern: the fourth contains the handsome chapel of the very reverend fathers, and a few tolerable apartments.

From Project Gutenberg

I hear from Zara a very tolerable account; but my proposed visit was respectfully declined.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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