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

Relevance

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 Now the seven most boring, starting with the most tolerable (comments edited for grammar and clarity). — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026 The males make harsh rapid trills that are tolerable for humans at a distance, but can be a bit unpleasant at close range. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 12 Aug. 2026 One Night Only is probably trying to be hopeful and sweet in its suggestion that love can make any nightmarish circumstances tolerable. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026 Tuesday brings the nicest weather of the week in the Philadelphia region with seasonable temperatures, tolerable humidity and sunshine. — Bill Kelly, CBS News, 4 Aug. 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
  • Lyft also doesn’t fingerprint its drivers unless required by law and doesn’t provide adequate background checks, the lawsuit alleged.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The state health department said North Carolina has an adequate supply of prophylaxis and would provide it to anyone who needs it.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of adequate
Adjective
  • To make their mission abroad bearable, the doctors, nurses, administrators and soldiers of the Korean War turned to humor, especially practical jokes.
    — Rachel Flynn, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But don’t let the relatable career-girl pluck of the movie dilute the fact that this song is pissed off about capitalism, even as its hooks make the grind of working life more bearable.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of bearable
Adjective
  • Jeremy Jacquet looks like a decent replacement for Ibrahima Konate and getting Ronald Araujo on loan provides extra cover given the defensive injuries.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Cease has been decent against Guardians hitters, holding them to 26 hits in 105 at-bats, but only nine of them have been for extra bases.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of decent
Adjective
  • Whether Bultaco’s latest revival can turn nostalgia into a genuinely sustainable motorcycle business remains to be seen.
    — Bultaco, New Atlas, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Berry championed sustainable farming and rural community preservation and railed against industrial agriculture and corporate agribusiness.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of sustainable
Adjective
  • The ride quality in my tester was more than satisfactory; a good thing given the infamous Atlanta traffic.
    — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Esther’s sudden fortune and failure — which arrives via mail in two envelopes on the same day — is unrealistic, and her story isn’t resolved in a satisfactory way at the end.
    — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of satisfactory
Adjective
  • Crafted from the finest, lightest tweed, the dress—chosen by stylist Ramona Tabita—features a sumptuous knotted structure that opens into a generous back neckline and culminates in a majestic train that skims the red carpet.
    — Giacomo Aricò, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2026
  • She’s played with a darkly enigmatic, unnerving quality by James in her finest work to date — a knowing, even domineering smile often curling around her lips.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of fine
Adjective
  • Best Amazon End-of-Season Patio Furniture Deals The end-of-season patio furniture deals at Amazon are too good to pass up.
    — Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Grichuk put a good swing on a slider while flying out to left field.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of good

Browse Nearby Words

tolerability
tolerable
tolerably
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tolerable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tolerable. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gist

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All