tolerant

adjective

tol·​er·​ant ˈtä-lə-rənt 

ˈtäl-rənt

1

a

: willing to accept the beliefs, feelings, habits, or behaviors of another group, culture, etc. as legitimate even when they differ from one's own

Despite his strong opinions, he was tolerant enough to be friends with very different kinds of people …

—Ben Sixsmith

American society progressed, leaving the bluenose mentality behind. Actually, today's tolerant values, accepting yesterday's outcasts, are more decent, fair, and humane.

—James A. Haught

Certainly the tribal nature of political and social behavior … is a key to understanding the durability of despotic regimes and the absence of tolerant pluralism.

—David K. Shipler

—often used with of

The eight-term California Republican built a reputation in House leadership … as a friendly backslapper increasingly tolerant of his party's most hardline members.

—Michael Warren and Melanie Zanona

b

: permitting or accepting something (such as a behavior or belief) that one does not like

tolerant parents

—often used with of

When it comes to judging friends and lovers, though, people tend not to be so tolerant of contradiction. A lover who betrays us reveals his entire character in a new and damning light. "I thought I knew you!" we cry, in a howl of anger and bewilderment.

—Edward Dolnick

The southerner is usually tolerant of those weaknesses that proceed from innocence …

—Flannery O'Connor

I am impressed, when I teach in the United States, by the readiness of students and colleagues to perform boring tasks like reading ill-written but essential texts. … British academic life, by contrast, is markedly less tolerant of tedium; French too.

—George Watson

Holmes was not prone to friendship, but he was tolerant of the big Scotchman, and smiled at the sight of him.

—Arthur Conan Doyle

… an intellectual context that was tolerant of barbarism and inhumanity, or even justified it.

—Richard Wolin

2

: exhibiting tolerance (see tolerance sense 4a) for something (such as a drug or an environmental factor)

The goal of allergy shots is to render a person tolerant to an allergen when it is encountered.

—Jane E. Brody

These organisms aren't just cold tolerant, they're freeze resistant.

—Robert C. Cowen

When bacteria become tolerant to these compounds, they sometimes also become less sensitive to certain antibiotic medicines.

—Coco Ballantyne

tolerantly adverb

Synonyms

• forbearing
• long-suffering
• patient
• stoic
• stoical
• uncomplaining

Examples of tolerant in a Sentence

this job requires a tolerant person who is used to dealing with complaints and angry customers

a tolerant acceptance of the terrible way that his wife has always treated him

Recent Examples on the Web

Sure, younger generations are tolerant of colorful language. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025

This drought tolerant vine grows naturally on dry, sandy soils in pine forest openings and coastal uplands. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025

Consider allowing drought tolerant grasses to go dormant during dry weather. 18. —Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2025

One hypothesis suggested that early alligators were saltwater tolerant and then later lost the trait. —Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tolerant

• fault-tolerant

Rhymes for tolerant

• intolerant

Kids Definition

tolerant

adjective

tol·​er·​ant ˈtäl(-ə)-rənt 

: showing tolerance

tolerantly adverb

Medical Definition

tolerant

adjective

tol·​er·​ant -rənt 

: exhibiting tolerance (as for a drug or physiological insult)

lactose tolerant