Intolerable Meaning
/ɪnˈtɑləɹəbl̩/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjNot tolerable; not capable of being borne or endured.
adjExtremely offensive or insulting.
Sentence Examples
The pain from the compound fracture was almost intolerable.
Who approved this intolerable rubbish for TV?
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The constant loud noise from the construction site became almost ____ for the residents.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The heat in the factory became ____, forcing the management to install a new cooling system.
Word Origin & History
Inherited from Middle English intolerable, borrowed from Middle French intolerable, from Latin intolerābilis. By surface analysis, in- + tolerable.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"It is an intolerable sound that sets spoons tinkling in saucers and windowpanes vibrating."
— 1971, William S. Burroughs, The Wild Boys: A Book of the Dead, page 4:
"“I call on all citizens of Berlin and across Germany to wear the yarmulke (as the skullcap is known in Yiddish) next Saturday if there are new, intolerable attacks targeting Israel and Jews on the occasion of Al-Quds Day in Berlin,” said Felix Klein in a statement."
— 2019 May 28, Jack Guy and Antonia Mortensen, “Germans urged to wear Jewish skullcap ahead of anti-Israel protests”, in CNN:
"o take apart an ageing nuclear facility, you have to put a lot of other things together first. New technologies, for instance, and new buildings to replace the intolerable ones, and new reserves of money."
— 2022 December 15, Samanth Subramanian, “Dismantling Sellafield: the epic task of shutting down a nuclear site”, in The Guardian:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The constant loud noise from the construction site became almost ____ for the residents.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The heat in the factory became ____, forcing the management to install a new cooling system.