Tolerant — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈtä-lə-rənt/ tol·er·ant

Meaning & Definition of Tolerant

Tolerant (adjective)

  1. willing to accept the beliefs, feelings, habits, or behaviors of another group, culture, etc. as legitimate even when they differ from one's own —often used with of
  2. permitting or accepting something (such as a behavior or belief) that one does not like —often used with of
  3. exhibiting tolerance for something (such as a drug or an environmental factor)

Tolerant (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. accepting pains or hardships calmly or without complaint

    "this job requires a tolerant person who is used to dealing with complaints and angry customers"

    similar: forbearing, long-suffering, patient, stoic, uncomplaining
    related: lenient, acquiescent, passive, resigned, unresistant, yielding, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, conformist, docile, law-abiding, obedient, placable, submissive, subordinate, tractable, willing, slavish, subservient, amiable, obliging, collected, composed, constrained, contained, curbed, inhibited, repressed, restrained, disciplined, self-contained, self-controlled, apathetic, uncaring, unresponsive
    opposite: complaining, fed up, impatient, kvetching, kvetchy, protesting
    near: bored, tired, weary, defiant, resistant, contrary, disobedient, insubordinate, intractable, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly

  2. receiving or enduring without offering resistance

    "a tolerant acceptance of the terrible way that his wife has always treated him"

    similar: acquiescent, nonresistant, passive, resigned, tolerating, unresistant, yielding
    related: forbearing, impassive, long-suffering, patient, stoic, uncomplaining, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, conformable, conformist, docile, guidable, law-abiding, obedient, pliable, pliant, subordinate, tractable, willing, obeisant, submissive, surrendering, amiable, obliging, slavish, subservient, disciplined, governable, manageable, apathetic, uncaring, unresponsive
    opposite: protesting, resistant, resisting, unyielding
    near: defiant, contrary, contumacious, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, insurgent, intractable, mutinous, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, restive, uncontrollable, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, balky, perverse, wayward, wrongheaded, headstrong, willful, indomitable, undisciplined, unmanageable, dissident, nonconformist

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Tolerant

The most common words with a similar meaning to Tolerant:

forbearing, long-suffering, patient, stoic, uncomplaining, acquiescent, nonresistant, passive, resigned, tolerating, unresistant, yielding

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Tolerant

Words with the opposite meaning of Tolerant:

complaining, fed up, impatient, kvetching, kvetchy, protesting, resistant, resisting, unyielding

Related Words for Tolerant

lenient, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, conformist, docile, law-abiding, obedient, placable, submissive, subordinate, tractable, willing, slavish, subservient, amiable, obliging, collected, composed, constrained, contained, curbed, inhibited, repressed, restrained, disciplined, self-contained, self-controlled, apathetic

Near Antonyms of Tolerant

bored, tired, weary, defiant, contrary, disobedient, insubordinate, intractable, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly, contumacious, froward, incompliant, insurgent, mutinous, restive, uncontrollable, untoward, balky, perverse, wayward, wrongheaded, headstrong, willful, indomitable, undisciplined

Word Forms of Tolerant

Derived words: tolerantly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Tolerant

First known use: 1746

Words & Phrases Containing Tolerant

fault-tolerant

Frequently Asked Questions about Tolerant

What does "Tolerant" mean?

"Tolerant" means willing to accept the beliefs, feelings, habits, or behaviors of another group, culture, etc. as legitimate even when they differ from one's own —often used with of. As an adjective, it is defined as: willing to accept the beliefs, feelings, habits, or behaviors of another group, culture, etc. as legitimate even when they differ from one's own —often used with of. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Tolerant"?

Other words for "Tolerant" include forbearing, long-suffering, patient, stoic, uncomplaining, acquiescent, nonresistant and passive. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Tolerant" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Tolerant"?

There are 53 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Tolerant". Common alternatives include forbearing, long-suffering, patient, stoic, uncomplaining, acquiescent, nonresistant, passive, resigned and tolerating.

What is the opposite of "Tolerant"?

Antonyms of "Tolerant" include complaining, fed up, impatient, kvetching, kvetchy, protesting, resistant and resisting. Near antonyms include bored, tired, weary and defiant.

How do you use "Tolerant" in a sentence?

Examples of "Tolerant" in a sentence: "this job requires a tolerant person who is used to dealing with complaints and angry customers"; "a tolerant acceptance of the terrible way that his wife has always treated him".

Is "Tolerant" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Tolerant" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Tolerant"?

"Tolerant" is pronounced /ˈtä-lə-rənt/ and divided into syllables as tol·er·ant.

What is the origin of the word "Tolerant"?

First known use: 1746.