Word
intolerable
Phoneticsin·tol·er·a·ble, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈtɑɫɝəbəɫ/
UK/ɪntˈɒləɹəbəl/
Definitions
01unbearable
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. too bad, difficult, or painful to deal with.
adj. incapable of being borne or endured; describing a situation that has exceeded the limit of a person's patience or physical capacity.
“The heat in the small room became intolerable after the air conditioner broke.”
“The working conditions at the factory had become intolerable, eventually forcing the staff to organize a formal protest against the management.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02offensive or rude
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. so rude or offensive that it cannot be accepted.
adj. extremely offensive, insulting, or socially unacceptable in a way that demands a reaction or rejection.
Español:de juzgado de guardia
“His intolerable behavior at the dinner party embarrassed everyone at the table.”
“The minister faced calls for his resignation after making a series of intolerable remarks regarding the local community.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“It became so intolerable as an adult she had to leave her chosen career.” “Fernando Clavijo, head of the Canary Islands government, posted on X: "It is intolerable that lives continue to be lost.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English intolerable, borrowed from Middle French intolerable, from Latin intolerābilis. By surface analysis, in- + tolerable.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/intolerable
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0