Synonym Chooser

How does the verb tolerate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of tolerate are abide, bear, endure, stand, and suffer. While all these words mean "to put up with something trying or painful," tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

When would abide be a good substitute for tolerate?

While the synonyms abide and tolerate are close in meaning, abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

When is it sensible to use bear instead of tolerate?

The synonyms bear and tolerate are sometimes interchangeable, but bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

When could endure be used to replace tolerate?

The words endure and tolerate can be used in similar contexts, but endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

Where would stand be a reasonable alternative to tolerate?

In some situations, the words stand and tolerate are roughly equivalent. However, stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

When can suffer be used instead of tolerate?

While in some cases nearly identical to tolerate, suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

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 tolerate All of the treatments were generally well tolerated. Paul McClure 18, New Atlas, 18 May 2025 The University needs—and does, in fact, tolerate—a degree of internal dissent; dissenters make the educational enterprise seem, in that romantic retrospect, legitimate. Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 17 May 2025 But with the bond market heading higher, investors may not want to tolerate the risk of those stocks, Cramer suggested. Julie Coleman, CNBC, 14 May 2025 Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are recruiting participants for a trial testing whether people with advanced lung disease, including COPD, can tolerate taking semaglutide, the drug sold as Ozempic and Wegovy. Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for tolerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tolerate
Verb
  • Justice Elena Kagan said whether some states could become magnets for pregnant migrants to give birth, should the high court let the order take effect for some, would create a patchwork of citizenship policies among states.
    Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • This was a unique way of letting fans know when the Chiefs will be playing this season.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • There has been action enough in the Grand Tour’s first week to fill three, with general classification (GC) expectations shattered, enduring class on display, and even a surprise new wearer of the pink jersey.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • Strat was next, its shape as familiar and enduring as that of a spoon.
    Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Use the Mega Backdoor Roth to Boost Tax-Free Savings If your 401(k) plan allows after-tax contributions and in-plan Roth conversions or rollovers to a Roth IRA, consider using the Mega Backdoor Roth strategy.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • According to the press release, Hodge bought his ticket online to participate in the Thursday, May 8, drawing and used the Quick Pick option, which allows the terminal or the retailer to randomly select the numbers for you.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Rather than accept those limitations, Dr. Gu decided to build something better.
    William Jones, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • Schumer’s announcement comes as Trump’s plan to accept the luxury jet to use as Air Force One has drawn strong pushback from Democrats, and even some Republicans, who have raised legal and ethical questions about the move.
    Erin Doherty, CNBC, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.
    Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 12 May 2025
  • Petrova claims her requests to correct the statement were ignored.
    Hanna Park, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • The group hasn't collected a new champion since 2014’s The Endless River, which stands as its last studio LP of original material.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
  • One is the world of a historically bad league season for Spurs, the world of 19 defeats in the 35 games played so far, still in with a chance of breaking their record from within a 38-match league season, a record that has stood since before the First World War.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • If time permits, disconnect utilities and appliances.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2025
  • Thus, to the extent that the IEEPA’s language is unclear, the major questions doctrine suggests that the law should be construed to not permit these tariffs.
    Ian Millhiser, Vox, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Driving experience Air Ride Adaptive Suspension & Magnetic Ride Control: this adjusts the vehicle’s height and damping for handling various driving conditions.
    Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
  • And then obviously handling the real creatures was fun.
    Ellise Shafer, Variety, 18 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tolerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tolerate. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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