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Intolerable vs Bearable - What's the difference?

intolerable | bearable |

As adjectives the difference between intolerable and bearable

is that intolerable is not tolerable; not capable of being borne or endured; not proper or right to be allowed; insufferable; insupportable; unbearable while bearable is able to be borne; tolerable; endurable.

intolerable

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Not tolerable; not capable of being borne or endured; not proper or right to be allowed; insufferable; insupportable; unbearable.
  • Extremely offensive or insulting.
  • * 1971 , William S. Burroughs, The Wild Boys: A Book of the Dead , page 4
    • It is an intolerable sound that sets spoons tinkling in saucers and windowpanes vibrating.

    Usage notes

    * Nouns to which "intolerable" is often applied: cruelty, burden, situation, condition, pain, heat, position, life, state, suffering, evil, risk, insult, hardship, agony, behavior, affront, insolence, stress, consequence, people.

    Derived terms

    * intolerability * intolerableness * intolerably

    References

    * *

    bearable

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Able to be borne; tolerable; endurable.

    • Derived terms

    * bearableness * bearably * unbearable * inbearable