as in resigned
receiving or enduring without offering resistance
old pictures of a graciously tolerating father letting his young children climb all over him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in letting
to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference
my boss simply doesn't tolerate tardiness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accepting
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
suffering a terrible headache, the poor woman couldn't tolerate all the noise the neighbors were making
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 tolerating
Parents, 30 May 2026
And unfortunately, organizations often unintentionally create environments that discourage exploration and human connection by implicitly or explicitly rewarding competition, tolerating destructive behavior from high performers, and suppressing emotional expression in the name of performance.
—Laurel Donnellan, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
The work of observing, tolerating and, at times, surrendering control to see what exists beneath it.
—Sonia Singh, Rolling Stone, 26 May 2026
That means tolerating a certain level of damage from leaf-eating insects.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
In a nation fed up with leaders seen as tolerating or colluding with organized crime, Manzo, 40, stood out.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
This is the opposite of rebuilding authentic relationships, tolerating discomfort, and learning to rely on other people whom patients in recovery actually need.
—Steve D. Klein, STAT, 14 May 2026
All are easy to grow and quite adaptable in the garden, tolerating deer, drought, heat, and humidity.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
Too often, public debate collapses into a false binary between compassion and accountability, as though preventing homelessness somehow means tolerating unsafe conditions on streets and in neighborhoods.
—Ray Bramson, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
Cooperative games like Uno, Go Fish, Sorry, or Chutes and Ladders help kids practice taking turns and tolerating frustration in a low-stakes environment.
—Parents, 30 May 2026
And unfortunately, organizations often unintentionally create environments that discourage exploration and human connection by implicitly or explicitly rewarding competition, tolerating destructive behavior from high performers, and suppressing emotional expression in the name of performance.
—Laurel Donnellan, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
The work of observing, tolerating and, at times, surrendering control to see what exists beneath it.
—Sonia Singh, Rolling Stone, 26 May 2026
That means tolerating a certain level of damage from leaf-eating insects.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
In a nation fed up with leaders seen as tolerating or colluding with organized crime, Manzo, 40, stood out.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
This is the opposite of rebuilding authentic relationships, tolerating discomfort, and learning to rely on other people whom patients in recovery actually need.
—Steve D. Klein, STAT, 14 May 2026
All are easy to grow and quite adaptable in the garden, tolerating deer, drought, heat, and humidity.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
Too often, public debate collapses into a false binary between compassion and accountability, as though preventing homelessness somehow means tolerating unsafe conditions on streets and in neighborhoods.
—Ray Bramson, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tolerating
Adjective
-
Liz Alvarado skillfully broadens this figure from a resigned, knowing older woman committed to marrying for security, to believably revealing dormant feelings within her that tamped down her first-and-only true enamorado Diego.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
12 May 2026
-
Neither is the machine that, partway through the play, noisily turns the stage into a great berg of foam, which slowly subsumes a resigned Kramer.—
Talya Zax,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Name your need in simple words, invite their side, and shape a middle path that honors the connection while letting your independent streak breathe a little.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2026
-
Maybe consider letting big trucks use the bus lanes too.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Is preserving the family name worth accepting less?—
Brian Duggan,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
Streisand was accepting Cannes' prestigious Honorary Palme d’Or at the event, which was broadcast live from the Palais des Festivals stage.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
His lab is working on heat-tolerant materials like silicon nitride and titanium nitride, aiming for a sail that can withstand temperatures of around 1,000 degrees Celsius (that's 1,832 degrees Fahrenheit) for long enough to pull off a sun-dive.—
Kiona N. Smith,
Space.com,
31 May 2026
-
Being respectful – treats others with dignity, especially when giving feedback, and remains tolerant, civil, and constructive.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Most technology investments solve the first problem while entirely ignoring the second.—
Aaron Levine,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
But when Spurs are trailing, Romero often abandons his defensive position and goes hunting for the ball, seemingly ignoring tactical instructions.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
And that takes in more ground than the Soviet Union when The Wall was still standing.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
-
This could leave fans looking for a nearby team — a void a Sacramento franchise could fill, though longer-standing ties in the A’s and Giants could still be the dominant fan bases.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
These stories usually involve a woman shucking societal norms of being nice, pretty, and obedient.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Just think of all those vacant Madonnas, structurally perfect compositions, and obedient daydreams of antiquity.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Avila-Siqueiros was silencing the Warner bats, allowing just four walks and an error in the first five innings.—
Kevin J. Farmer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
Starter Ryan Gallagher threw five shutout innings while striking out five and allowing four hits.—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tolerating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tolerating. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
