tolerable

adjective

ˈtä-lə-rə-bəl How to pronounce tolerable (audio)
Definition of tolerablenext
1
as in endurable
capable of being endured stubbing your toe is at least a more tolerable pain than breaking your foot

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adequate
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards the accommodations are tolerable though not exactly luxurious

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of tolerable The charging-time penalty the new method imposes could be less than three seconds per session—a pretty tolerable penalty for a potential gain of two or three extra years of useful battery life. — IEEE Spectrum, 17 June 2026 Siegel points out that the lower 4 mg retatrutide dose yielded a 19 percent body weight reduction, with a significantly lower rate of discontinuation, suggesting this may be a more tolerable option for many. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 8 June 2026 Weaning Orson off the tincture drops will go a long way toward making that character more tolerable. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 24 May 2026 Most people take about 600 to 800 international units (IU) of vitamin D, but exceeding 4,000 IU—the tolerable upper intake limit—can increase your risk of mild adverse effects. — Mph, Verywell Health, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tolerable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tolerable
  1. endurable
  2. adequate
  3. bearable
  4. decent
  5. sustainable
  6. satisfactory
  7. fine
  8. good
Adjective
  • Two people with divergent intuitions about what’s normal, or endurable, can end up tussling over the same territory.
    — Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 15 July 2026
  • Recognizing this makes the feeling more endurable.
    — Daniel Smith, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
Definition of endurable
Adjective
  • Water authorities trying to maintain adequate supplies of fresh water have banned farmers in some parts of the country from pumping water out of canals to irrigate their crops.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Investors also challenged lofty tech stock valuations and doubted whether surging capital spending will generate adequate returns.
    — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of adequate
Adjective
  • That means that — despite the heat not going anywhere — temperatures will become slightly more bearable through the next seven days.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Small adjustments over time are more effective (and more bearable) than radical changes later.
    — Evan Zimmer, CNBC, 22 July 2026
Definition of bearable
Adjective
  • As time passes, the kills have to get more inventive to sustain the level of suspense required for a decent sized group of people to be in fear of their lives for a prolong period of time.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • These are fine principles, the bedrock of any decent society.
    — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026
Definition of decent
Adjective
  • Southwest has set a goal to replace 10 percent of its jet fuel with sustainable aviation fuel by 2030.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Even in these early stages, the project is generating praise, winning the Silver at this year's World Habitat Awards for innovative and sustainable housing projects.
    — Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of sustainable
Adjective
  • This matters because ringing up more sales outside the morning coffee rush can help keep Starbucks’ comps growing at satisfactory clips as year-over-year comparisons get tougher.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 30 July 2026
  • Police responses can also lead to trauma for that person or a less satisfactory outcome than another community service response would produce, Duckett said.
    — Scott Maucione, NPR, 27 July 2026
Definition of satisfactory
Adjective
  • Drain crushed pineapple through a fine mesh strainer set over a small bowl.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Those willing to spend the day — and night — outside could witness some of the finest skywatching 2026 has to offer.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of fine
Adjective
  • Even the Brewers, the leaders for team ERA, added another good arm just for safe measure.
    — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Chef Iñigo Lavado spent years hopping between Europe’s best kitchens, including Alain Ducasse and Ferran Adriá, before opening his namesake restaurant in the neighboring city of Irún in 2004.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of good

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Cite this Entry

“Tolerable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tolerable. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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