tolerant

[ tol-er-uh nt ]

/ ˈtɒl ər ənt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tolerant ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

inclined or disposed to tolerate; showing tolerance; forbearing: tolerant of errors.

favoring toleration: a tolerant church.

Medicine/Medical, Immunology.

able to endure or resist the action of a drug, poison, etc.
lacking or exhibiting low levels of immune response to a normally immunogenic substance.

Nearby words

toledo, tolerable, tolerance, tolerance dose, tolerance zone, tolerant, tolerate, toleration, tolerogenic, toleware, tolidine

Origin of tolerant

1770–80; < Latin tolerant- (stem of tolerāns), present participle of tolerāre to bear. See tolerate, -ant

Related forms

tol·er·ant·ly, adverbnon·tol·er·ant, adjectivenon·tol·er·ant·ly, adverbo·ver·tol·er·ant, adjective

o·ver·tol·er·ant·ly, adverbqua·si-tol·er·ant, adjectivequa·si-tol·er·ant·ly, adverbself-tol·er·ant, adjectiveself-tol·er·ant·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for tolerant

Such is the Sierra Leonean way, the most tolerant, compassionate, and friendly people I have found anywhere.
In Sierra Leone, the Plague Is Closing in Around Us|Ned Eustace|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But it may also cause us to be too tolerant of further extensions of state power in the name of security.
David Cameron's Plan to Fight ISIS Will Likely Involve Racial Profiling|Clive Irving|September 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She speaks with chilly precision, “in the tone that a bored but tolerant adult might use.”
American Dreams: A Best-Selling Pint-Sized Psychopath|Nathaniel Rich|June 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The organization presents itself as a tolerant Islamic voice—the “good Muslim,” if you will.
The Hedonistic, Possibly Holocaust-Denying Sect That’s Hoodwinking Republican Congressmen|Jay Michaelson|April 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Nothing better conveyed the message that America was a tolerant, multicultural nation.
What the Sex Lives of the Founding Fathers Reveal About Us|Eric Herschthal|February 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I don't know how tolerant (or intolerant) you are towards his pursuits and speculations.
The Letters of William James, Vol. II|William James
Buddhism, although, tolerant of heresy, has ever been vehement in its persecution of schism.
Ceylon; an Account of the Island Physical, Historical, and Topographical with Notices of Its Natural History, Antiquities and Productions, Volume 1 (of 2)|James Emerson Tennent
Mr. Garry spoke very quietly, but what he said scarcely aroused hopes that his attitude would be tolerant.
Atlantis|Gerhart Hauptmann
We are all tolerant enough of those who do not agree with us, provided only they are sufficiently miserable!
Adventures In Contentment|David Grayson
We are less disposed to be tolerant of individual persuasions which imply a personal and unpleasant reflection.
The Frontiersmen|Charles Egbert Craddock

British Dictionary definitions for tolerant

tolerant

/ (ˈtɒlərənt) /

adjective

able to tolerate the beliefs, actions, opinions, etc, of others

permissive

able to withstand extremes, as of heat and cold

med (of a patient) exhibiting tolerance to a drug

Derived Forms

tolerantly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012