Words / C1

in-TOL-uh-r-uh-bl/ɪnˈtɒlərəbl/

Intolerable means too bad, painful, or unfair to be accepted: intolerable delay, an intolerable rota. Tolerate (already in the dictionary) is the verb; unbearable is the close twin. Resilience is a slide, not a missing relief hour.

Meaning

Too bad, painful, or unfair to be accepted.

Examples

• “An intolerable night rota with no relief hour is a staffing minute, not “resilience”.”
• “Unbearable is the close twin. Unendurable is hotter. Resilience is branding. A relief hour is a rota. Staff the gap; keep resilience for the foyer.”

Good to know

Too bad to accept. Verb: tolerate (already in the dictionary). “Resilience” ≠ a missing relief hour.

Near in meaning

unbearable, unendurable, insufferable

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