tolerable

adjective

tol·​er·​a·​ble ˈtä-lə-rə-bəl 

ˈtäl-rə-;

ˈtä-lər-bəl

1

: capable of being borne or endured

tolerable pain

2

: moderately good or agreeable : passable

a tolerable singing voice

tolerability

ˌtä-lə-rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

ˌtäl-rə-

noun

tolerably

ˈtä-lə-rə-blē 

ˈtäl-rə-;

ˈtä-lər-blē

adverb

Synonyms

• bearable
• endurable
• sufferable
• supportable
• sustainable

Examples of tolerable in a Sentence

The heat was tolerable for only a short time.

stubbing your toe is at least a more tolerable pain than breaking your foot

Recent Examples on the Web

Surely the acquisition cost of such players would, across the board, be tolerable if the club determines that a short-term boost to its puck-moving options is required. —Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024

However, amounts less than the tolerable upper intake level of 4,000 IU could also have a negative impact over time.217 Vitamin D supplements may interact with some medications, including diuretics, statins, steroids, and Orlistat (a weight-loss drug). —Sherri Gordon, Health, 29 Dec. 2024

Oftentimes, experts will use skin numbing or other anesthesia to make the pain more tolerable. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024

Finding an effective but tolerable dose varies tremendously among individuals, and GLP-1 drug prescriptions are incrementally increased over time to help people adjust. —Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tolerable

adjective

tol·​er·​able

ˈtäl-(ə-)rə-bəl,

ˈtäl-ər-bəl

1

: capable of being put up with

tolerable pain

2

: fairly good

a tolerable singing voice

tolerably

-blē

adverb