intolerance
gb/ɪntˈɑlɚəns/ us/ɪntˈɑlɚəns/
B2
English
~ 9900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
state
1
unwillingness to accept differences
A strong dislike of people or ideas that are different, and a refusal to accept them.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s intolerance of/toward [people/beliefs/behaviors]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'intolerance' with 'intolerant'. 'Intolerance' is the noun (e.g., 'intolerance toward minorities'), while 'intolerant' is the adjective (e.g., 'He is intolerant of minorities'). Another mistake is using 'intolerance' where 'disagreement' would be better; disagreeing with someone is not always the same as being intolerant of them.
Synonyms
bigotry (Stronger word; stresses strong, unreasonable hatred and prejudice, especially about race or religion.)
|
prejudice (Focuses on unfair negative opinions about a group; may be less active or aggressive than 'intolerance'.)
|
narrow-mindedness (Informal-sounding; stresses a closed or limited way of thinking rather than social harm.)
|
discrimination (Usually refers to unfair actions or treatment, while 'intolerance' can be attitude or behavior.)
Antonyms
tolerance (General opposite; willingness to allow and accept different beliefs or ways of living.)
|
open-mindedness (Stresses a positive, curious attitude toward different ideas, not just passive acceptance.)
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acceptance (Focuses on welcoming and recognizing others as valid or equal.)
Collocations
religious intolerance
|racial intolerance
|intolerance toward minorities
|intolerance of dissent
|growing intolerance
|ethnic intolerance
Themes
society
|politics
|emotions
|culture
|relationships
Examples
- Religious intolerance has led to years of conflict in the region.
- The school has a strict policy against any form of racial intolerance.
- Online spaces can sometimes encourage intolerance toward people with different opinions.
- Her speech condemned intolerance of refugees and minority groups.
- Laws alone cannot end intolerance; people’s attitudes also need to change.
Learner examples
- Intolerance can make people feel afraid and alone.
- They left the country because of growing intolerance toward their religion.
- Intolerance of different cultures is a big problem in many places.
- We should teach children that intolerance is wrong.
- Intolerance hurts both the victims and the wider society.
Noun
technical
C1
state
2
inability to handle a substance
A health problem where your body cannot handle a certain food, drink, or drug well, so you feel sick or uncomfortable when you take it.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has [substance] intolerance; intolerance to/of [substance]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'intolerance' with 'allergy'. An allergy usually involves the immune system and can be very dangerous, while an intolerance usually causes discomfort but is not life-threatening. Also, learners sometimes say 'I am intolerance to milk'; the correct forms are 'I have a milk intolerance' or 'I am intolerant to milk'.
Synonyms
sensitivity (Less technical; often used in everyday speech for mild reactions, though it can be vague.)
|
susceptibility (Formal; stresses being easily affected but does not always mean a digestive problem.)
Antonyms
tolerance (In medical use, means the body’s ability to handle a drug or substance without bad effects.)
Collocations
lactose intolerance
|gluten intolerance
|food intolerance
|drug intolerance
|fructose intolerance
|diagnose an intolerance
Themes
health
|medicine
|nutrition
|body
|food_drink
Examples
- After several tests, her doctor confirmed that she has lactose intolerance.
- Food intolerance can cause symptoms like bloating, stomach pain, and headaches.
- He developed an intolerance to the medication and had to switch to a different drug.
- Gluten intolerance is sometimes confused with celiac disease, but they are not the same.
- Keeping a food diary can help you discover any hidden intolerances.
Learner examples
- My sister has lactose intolerance, so she cannot drink normal milk.
- If you feel sick after certain foods, you may have a food intolerance.
- The doctor tested him for gluten intolerance.
- Some people think they have an allergy, but it is only an intolerance.
- Her skin problem was caused by an intolerance to that cream.
Noun
formal
C1
state
3
refusal to allow certain behavior
A strong decision not to allow a certain action or problem, because you think it is bad.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s intolerance of [behavior/problem]; intolerance for [behavior/problem]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning is always negative, like social or racial intolerance. In this sense, however, 'intolerance of' something like crime or corruption is often seen as positive. Be careful with the preposition: use 'intolerance of' or 'intolerance for', not 'intolerance to' for behaviors or problems.
Synonyms
zero tolerance (Very strong phrase; often used in official policies to mean no exceptions at all.)
|
strictness (General term; can describe rules or people, not just attitudes toward specific wrongs.)
Antonyms
leniency (Stresses being soft or not strict toward bad behavior.)
|
indulgence (Emphasizes allowing or overlooking faults or bad behavior.)
Collocations
intolerance of corruption
|intolerance of violence
|intolerance for abuse
|public intolerance of crime
|zero intolerance for bullying
|growing intolerance of inequality
Themes
society
|law
|ethics
|politics
Examples
- There is growing public intolerance of corruption among elected officials.
- The company has complete intolerance for harassment in the workplace.
- His intolerance of lateness made him unpopular with more relaxed colleagues.
- The new policy reflects an increasing intolerance for violent behavior in schools.
- Social media users have shown little intolerance of misinformation until it affects them personally.
Learner examples
- The school shows intolerance of bullying.
- Many people now have less intolerance of bad driving.
- The new mayor promised intolerance of crime in the city.
- Her intolerance of rude behavior is clear in every meeting.
- Their parents’ intolerance of lies is very strong.
Noun
technical
C2
state
4
inability to endure physical conditions
A medical problem where your body cannot handle something like heat or exercise well, so you feel weak or sick.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has [condition] intolerance; intolerance to [condition]
Common mistake:
Learners may group this under food 'intolerance', but in medicine it is used more broadly for physical conditions like heat, cold, or exercise. Note that we usually use 'to' with these conditions: 'intolerance to heat', 'intolerance to exercise'.
Synonyms
hypersensitivity (Technical; suggests the body reacts too strongly to a condition, though not limited to physical conditions.)
Antonyms
tolerance (In clinical contexts, refers to normal ability to bear conditions like exercise or temperature.)
Collocations
heat intolerance
|exercise intolerance
|cold intolerance
|orthostatic intolerance
|symptoms of heat intolerance
Themes
health
|medicine
|body
Examples
- Patients with this condition often report severe heat intolerance during the summer months.
- Exercise intolerance can be an early sign of heart or lung disease.
- Cold intolerance is a common symptom in people with thyroid problems.
Learner examples
- Her doctor says she has heat intolerance, so she stays indoors on very hot days.
- Exercise intolerance makes it hard for him to walk even short distances.
- Cold intolerance can make your hands and feet feel very painful in winter.
Grammar
Dictionary form
intolerance
IPA
GB/ɪntˈɑlɚəns/
US/ɪntˈɑlɚəns/
Syllables & stress
in - tol - er - ance (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tol)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: intolerance
- Plural: intolerance, intolerances
Word family
Forms
intolerances
noun
Related words
tolerable
adjective B2
Negative and opposite forms
intolerant
adjective B2
intolerable
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
toleration
noun C1
intolerably
adverb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.