intolerable
gb/ɪntˈɑlɚəbəl/ us/ɪntˈɑlɚəbəl/
B2
English
~ 5500
elfogadhatatlan, tűrhetetlen, elviselhetetlen, kibírhatatlan
B2
1
tűrhetetlen
B2
Usage pattern:
[situation/behavior] is intolerable
The judge called the company’s treatment of its workers absolutely intolerable.
A bíró teljesen elfogadhatatlannak nevezte, ahogyan a cég a dolgozóival bánik.
Many residents consider the level of street violence intolerable.
Sok lakos elfogadhatatlannak tartja az utcai erőszak mértékét.
It is intolerable that children are still living in these conditions.
His constant lying created an intolerable situation at work.
The report concluded that further delays would be politically intolerable.
Learner examples
The noise from the factory is intolerable for the people who live nearby.
A gyár zaja tűrhetetlen a közelben élők számára.
They say it is intolerable that some families have no clean water.
Azt mondják, elfogadhatatlan, hogy egyes családoknak nincs tiszta ivóvizük.
Her rude comments were intolerable, so I left the meeting.
For many teachers, the lack of support has become intolerable.
The students found the unfair rules intolerable.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "intolerable" with "intolerant". "Intolerable" describes a situation or thing that is too bad to accept (an intolerable situation), while "intolerant" describes a person who does not accept other people or ideas (an intolerant person). Learners also sometimes use "very intolerable"; because "intolerable" is already very strong, it is usually better to say "completely intolerable" or just "intolerable".
Meaning
too bad to be accepted
Collocations
intolerable situation
|intolerable conditions
|intolerable cruelty
|intolerable behavior
|intolerable injustice
Synonyms
unacceptable (Focuses on something not allowed or not good enough, especially by rules or moral standards.)
|
outrageous (Stronger and more emotional, suggesting shock or anger at how bad something is.)
Antonyms
acceptable (Describes something that people are willing to allow or live with.)
|
tolerable (Suggests something is not good but still just good enough to live with.)
Themes
society
|ethics
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
|relationships
|law
Definition
So bad that people cannot accept it and should not have to live with it.
So bad, serious, or offensive that it cannot be accepted, allowed, or continued, especially in a social or moral sense.
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[pain/discomfort] is intolerable
The pain in his back became intolerable, and he was rushed to the hospital.
A hátfájása elviselhetetlenné vált, ezért kórházba szállították.
After an hour in the sun, the heat on the metal seats was intolerable.
Egy óra után a napon a fémülések már elviselhetetlenül forrók voltak.
The constant drilling outside created an intolerable noise in the apartment.
She left the room because the tension between them was almost intolerable.
For many migrants, the pressure of debt is intolerable.
Learner examples
He went to the doctor because the pain in his leg was intolerable.
Azért ment orvoshoz, mert elviselhetetlen volt a fájdalom a lábában.
The heat in the small room was intolerable in the afternoon.
A kis szobában délután elviselhetetlen volt a hőség.
The loud music from the club was intolerable, so we could not sleep.
She found the stress at her new job intolerable.
The smell in the kitchen was intolerable after the food went bad.
Common mistake:
Learners may say "too much intolerable" or "very intolerable" when talking about pain or stress. It is usually enough to say "intolerable pain" or use an adverb like "almost" or "completely" ("almost intolerable pain"). They also sometimes use "intolerable" for small annoyances; in everyday speech, "intolerable" usually suggests very strong pain or discomfort.
Meaning
impossible to bear (pain, discomfort)
Collocations
intolerable pain
|intolerable heat
|intolerable pressure
|intolerable noise
|almost intolerable
Synonyms
unbearable (The most common everyday word for pain or stress that feels too strong to endure.)
|
excruciating (Emphasizes extremely severe pain; often stronger and more dramatic than "intolerable".)
Antonyms
bearable (Describes pain or discomfort that is bad but still possible to live with.)
|
mild (Describes pain or discomfort that is not strong, the opposite of the strong intensity in "intolerable".)
Themes
health
|emotions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
So painful or uncomfortable that a person feels they cannot stand it.
Causing such extreme physical or emotional pain or discomfort that someone cannot bear it.
Grammar
Dictionary form
intolerable
IPA
GB/ɪntˈɑlɚəbəl/
US/ɪntˈɑlɚəbəl/
Syllables & stress
in - tol - er - able (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tol)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: intolerable
Word family
Negative and opposite forms
Related words
toleration
noun C1
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.