tolerable
Americanadjective
-
capable of being tolerated; endurable.
His arrogance is no longer tolerable.
- Synonyms:
- supportable, bearable
-
fairly good; not bad.
- Synonyms:
- so-so, indifferent, middling, passable
-
Informal. in fair health.
adjective
-
able to be tolerated; endurable
-
permissible
-
informal fairly good
Other Word Forms
- nontolerable adjective
- nontolerableness noun
- nontolerably adverb
- tolerability noun
- tolerableness noun
- tolerably adverb
- untolerable adjective
- untolerableness noun
- untolerably adverb
Etymology
Origin of tolerable
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin tolerābilis, equivalent to tolerā ( re ) to endure + -bilis -ble
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.
He argues it permits too many "tolerable" risks - for example, allowing flammable materials in window systems and between floors to remain even if they could let fire spread.
From BBC
To make your next flight less of a sufferfest, we tapped some frequent economy-class fliers for tips on making the back of the plane more tolerable—or even luxurious.
Only you can assess whether that risk is tolerable.
From MarketWatch
Oatmeal cake was a tolerable idea, but the possibility of kipper cake made them gag.
From Literature
Spending a night or two outdoors in a securely pitched tent was a tolerable idea, but thunder?
From Literature
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.
