intolerant

adjective

in·​tol·​er·​ant (ˌ)in-ˈtä-lə-rənt 

-ˈtä--rənt

1

: unable or unwilling to endure

2

a

: unwilling to grant equal freedom of expression especially in religious matters

b

: unwilling to grant or share social, political, or professional rights : bigoted

3

: exhibiting physiological intolerance

lactose intolerant

intolerantly adverb

intolerantness noun

Synonyms

• impatient
• complaining

Examples of intolerant in a Sentence

intolerant of fools, she is not an easy person to work for

intolerant people who callously deny others the very rights that they take for granted

Recent Examples on the Web

Although many enjoy the company of other dogs, some are intolerant of them. —Lisa Bloch, Mercury News, 22 July 2025

Through careful assessments, Miller and Afrin found that people most likely to have mast cell activation syndrome were also highly likely to be chemically intolerant. —Kate Raphael, Discover Magazine, 23 June 2025

Many of the asylum-seekers are Christians who fled Iran and its intolerant views toward non-Muslim religions. —Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 26 June 2025

Plants are intolerant of dry summer soil, making summer a stressful time for planting. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 20 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1735, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing intolerant

• lactose intolerant

Rhymes for intolerant

• tolerant

Kids Definition

intolerant

adjective

in·​tol·​er·​ant (ˈ)in-ˈtäl-(ə-)rənt 

1

: unable or unwilling to endure

2

: unwilling to grant equality, freedom, or other social rights

intolerantly adverb

Medical Definition

intolerant

adjective

in·​tol·​er·​ant

(ˈ)in-ˈtäl(-ə)-rənt

: exhibiting physiological intolerance : unable to properly metabolize or absorb a substance

People who are lactose intolerant cannot digest lactose because their small intestines do not produce enough lactase, the enzyme that breaks lactose down …

—Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue