intolerable

adjective

in·​tol·​er·​a·​ble (ˌ)in-ˈtä-lə-rə-bəl How to pronounce intolerable (audio)
-ˈtäl-rə-,
-ˈtä-lər-bəl
1
: not tolerable : unbearable
intolerable pain
2
intolerability
(ˌ)in-ˌtä-lə-rə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce intolerable (audio)
-ˌtäl-rə-
-ˌtä-lər-
noun
intolerableness
(ˌ)in-ˈtä-lə-rə-bəl-nəs How to pronounce intolerable (audio)
-ˈtäl-rə-
-ˈtä-lər-bəl-
noun
intolerably
(ˌ)in-ˈtä-lə-rə-blē How to pronounce intolerable (audio)
-ˈtäl-rə-
-ˈtä-lər-blē
adverb

Examples of intolerable in a Sentence

She divorced him on the grounds of intolerable cruelty. this stifling heat is intolerable
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If the situation becomes intolerable, your son will deal with it. Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2024 Add into this the cost of recruiting, training, supporting, and retaining fighter pilots in sufficient numbers and the economics become intolerable. David Szondy, New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2024 Still, its short running time keeps Burton’s excesses from becoming intolerable, and its giddy, chaotic shift into kid-friendly horror near the end feels like a heartfelt, nostalgic acknowledgement of his outsider-artist youth. Will Leitch, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2024 In particular, Jenna Fletcher, mom of three from the greater Philadelphia area, finds the sound of Blippi’s laugh intolerable. ​wendy Wisner, Parents, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for intolerable 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin intolerabilis, from in- + tolerabilis tolerable

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of intolerable was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near intolerable

Cite this Entry

“Intolerable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intolerable. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

intolerable

adjective
in·​tol·​er·​a·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈtäl-(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce intolerable (audio)
-ˈtäl-ər-bəl
: not tolerable : unbearable
intolerable pain
intolerably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on intolerable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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