bearable

adjective

bear·​able ˈber-ə-bəl How to pronounce bearable (audio)
: capable of being borne
bearability noun
bearably adverb

Examples of bearable in a Sentence

He's in a great deal of pain, but the medication makes it bearable. the pain from a sprained ankle is annoying but bearable
Recent Examples on the Web Those will come later; at the beginning, Seydou’s life in Dakar seems hard but bearable, even festive. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 With the right heated clothing, any place, and temperature, are bearable. Breanna Wilson, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Dying, and Dying, is full of sly little jokes like this, which make life all the more amusing and bearable for the living. Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2024 The personalized space now emanates an energy that makes even Monday mornings bearable. Jessica Swannie, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 Smith carries the film with his charm alone, making the unpleasant experience somewhat bearable. Jourdain Searles, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2024 Keep reading to learn germ-fighting habits that could help your baby dodge an illness all year round—or at least make your baby's first cold more bearable for both of you. Rebecca Stewart, Parents, 21 Dec. 2023 Still, despite the potential distraction and a very powerful pair of motors ready to rip at the command of my right foot, even this traffic jam was bearable. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 9 Oct. 2023 Comedy is a way to somehow make the unbearable bearable, spiritually. Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bearable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1557, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bearable was circa 1557

Dictionary Entries Near bearable

Cite this Entry

“Bearable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bearable. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bearable

adjective
bear·​able ˈbar-ə-bəl How to pronounce bearable (audio)
ˈber-
: possible to bear

More from Merriam-Webster on bearable

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