tolerable

[ tol-er-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being tolerated; endurable:

   His arrogance is no longer tolerable.

   Synonyms: supportable, bearable

2. fairly good; not bad.

   Synonyms: so-so, indifferent, middling, passable

3. Informal. in fair health.

tolerable

/ ˈtɒlərəbəl /

adjective

1. able to be tolerated; endurable
2. permissible
3. informal.
   fairly good

Derived Forms

• ˈtolerableness, noun
• ˈtolerably, adverb

Other Words From

• toler·a·ble·ness toler·a·bili·ty noun
• toler·a·bly adverb
• non·toler·a·ble adjective
• non·toler·a·ble·ness noun
• non·toler·a·bly adverb
• un·toler·a·ble adjective
• un·toler·a·ble·ness noun
• un·toler·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tolerable¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin tolerābilis, equivalent to tolerā ( re ) to endure + -bilis -ble

Example Sentences

Under the existing quota model, private prisons are driven to fill as many beds with detainees as possible — there's hardly any financial incentive to make the quality of their stay more tolerable.

From Salon

The world’s Colin Robinsons are unavoidable because they are tolerable, enabling them to strike at any moment.

From Salon

Lois is a walking TV trope made tolerable solely by the muscle and sinew of Nash-Betts’ performance: another gifted detective who has seen too much and self-medicates with gallons of vodka.

From Salon

“There was no moaning about it at all, and he just got on with making life as tolerable as possible, as a professional survivor.”

From BBC

The big unanswered questions are could the same effect be achieved in people, and whether any side effects would be tolerable.

From BBC

Related Words

• adequate
• allowable
• bearable
• decent
• livable
• presentable
• respectable
• satisfactory
• sufficient
• sustainable