zero tolerance
noun
: a policy of giving the most severe punishment possible to every person who commits a crime or breaks a rule
The police announced that there will be zero tolerance for looters.
The camp has a zero tolerance drug and alcohol policy.
Examples of zero tolerance in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Driving home its message of zero tolerance for instability at its border, Riyadh launched airstrikes on a UAE shipment in Yemen on Tuesday and backed the Yemeni government’s call for UAE forces to leave the country.
—
Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
So, the sheriff said her deputies will have zero tolerance for anyone firing guns into the air to celebrate the new year, because bullets have to fall back down and that can injure or kill someone.
—Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
However, a third said that OP did the right thing and that there should be a zero tolerance for bullying.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zero tolerance
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Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
So, the sheriff said her deputies will have zero tolerance for anyone firing guns into the air to celebrate the new year, because bullets have to fall back down and that can injure or kill someone.
—Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
However, a third said that OP did the right thing and that there should be a zero tolerance for bullying.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zero tolerance
Cite this Entry
“Zero tolerance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zero%20tolerance. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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