unbearable

adjective

un·​bear·​able ˌən-ˈber-ə-bəl How to pronounce unbearable (audio)
: not bearable : unendurable
unbearable pain
unbearably adverb

Example Sentences

We were in an almost unbearable state of excitement. this heat is unbearable—when are we going to get air-conditioning?
Recent Examples on the Web The desperation on the latter point is palpable, and at times deliberately unbearable. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2023 Tanks and t-shirts are simply not warm enough, yet layering can get too hot, and the transition from breaking a sweat indoors to entering an outside world of sharp chilliness just feels unbearable. Maverick Li, Men's Health, 9 Jan. 2023 Co-owners Pattie and Jim Elrod say inflation and the after-effects of the coronavirus pandemic made restaurant work seem unbearable. Dallas News, 15 Dec. 2022 Other doctors said patients with terminal diagnoses are turning to medical assistance in dying, or MAID, when their pain and anxiety grow unbearable. James Freeman, WSJ, 17 Nov. 2022 At their crest, her confusion about her gender identity would be unbearable. Julia Mio Inuma, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2023 If one spouse moves to a facility to receive daily care, that separation can, for some, be unbearable. Edgemere Senior Living, Dallas News, 12 Apr. 2023 The wait, the silence, became unbearable. Compiled By Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2023 And for others, health conditions make even a mild chill feel unbearable. Lindsay Modglin, Health, 6 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unbearable.' 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

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near unbearable

Cite this Entry

“Unbearable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unbearable. Accessed 2 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

unbearable

adjective
un·​bear·​able ˌən-ˈbar-ə-bəl How to pronounce unbearable (audio)
ˈən-,
-ˈber-
: greater than can be borne
unbearable pain
unbearably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on unbearable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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