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

Since taking power, Syria's new leaders have sought to break from their own violent extremist past, and present a moderate image more tolerable to ordinary Syrians and foreign powers.

Read more on Barron's

"We say this defamatory, frankly puerile and infantile behaviour by a grown man in respect of these people was, and is, beyond the pale of what is tolerable in society and therefore characterised as criminal."

Read more on BBC

Since taking power, Syria's new leaders have sought to break from their own radical Islamist past and present a moderate image more tolerable to ordinary Syrians and foreign powers.

Read more on Barron's

Unless ocean temperatures return to more tolerable levels, bleached corals simply cannot recover and eventually die of starvation.

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

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Related Words

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