intolerable

adjective

in·tol·er·a·ble (ˌ)in-ˈtä-lə-rə-bəl

-ˈtäl-rə-,

-ˈtä-lər-bəl

Synonyms of intolerable

: not tolerable : unbearable

intolerable pain

: excessive

intolerability

(ˌ)in-ˌtä-lə-rə-ˈbi-lə-tē

-ˌtäl-rə-,

-ˌtä-lər-

noun

intolerableness

(ˌ)in-ˈtä-lə-rə-bəl-nəs

-ˈtäl-rə-,

-ˈtä-lər-bəl-

noun

intolerably

(ˌ)in-ˈtä-lə-rə-blē

-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.

Decisions that feel low-risk today may be intolerable in just a few years. — Pavel Bykov, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Life was an onslaught of bright lights, loud noises, intolerable textures and tastes. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Indeed, major infrastructure reforms are more likely to happen because the status quo is intolerable than because someone diligently explained the benefits. — Justin Worland, Time, 25 July 2026 Gérald Marie potentially raped dozens of young women between the 1980s and the 2000s, acting with a sense of total impunity and within an utterly intolerable culture of rape. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 17 July 2026 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

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

intolerability

intolerable

intolerance

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Intolerable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intolerable. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

intolerable

adjective

in·tol·er·a·ble (ˈ)in-ˈtäl-(ə-)rə-bəl

-ˈtäl-ər-bəl

: not tolerable : unbearable

intolerable pain

intolerability

(ˌ)in-ˌtäl-(ə-)rə-ˈbil-ət-ē

noun

intolerably

(ˈ)in-ˈtäl-(ə-)rə-blē

-ˈtäl-ər-blē

adverb

intolerable

adjective

Synonyms of intolerable

Examples of intolerable in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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intolerable

adjective

Synonyms of intolerable

Examples of intolerable in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for intolerable

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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