tolerable

adjective

tol·​er·​a·​ble ˈtä-lə-rə-bəl How to pronounce tolerable (audio)
ˈtäl-rə-;
ˈtä-lər-bəl
Synonyms of tolerablenext
1
: capable of being borne or endured
tolerable pain
2
: moderately good or agreeable : passable
a tolerable singing voice
tolerability noun
tolerably
ˈtä-lə-rə-blē How to pronounce tolerable (audio)
ˈtäl-rə-;
ˈtä-lər-blē
adverb

Examples of tolerable in a Sentence

The heat was tolerable for only a short time. stubbing your toe is at least a more tolerable pain than breaking your foot
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.
When to see a doctor Usually, gastrointestinal side effects are tolerable and can improve with simple remedies, says Johns. Nicole Hernandez, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026 Burke had his critics, such as Mary Wollstonecraft, who believed that Burke’s argument on behalf of the beauty of tradition sought to make oppression and inequality tolerable. Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026 Jones said the tense moments were tolerable. Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026 The tolerable songs on Monica add a bit of spice and color. Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tolerable

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tolerable was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Tolerable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tolerable. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

tolerable

adjective
tol·​er·​able
ˈtäl-(ə-)rə-bəl
ˈtäl-ər-bəl
1
: capable of being put up with
tolerable pain
2
: fairly good
a tolerable singing voice
tolerably
-blē
adverb

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