TOLERATE Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'tolerate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of tolerate are abide , bear , endure , stand , and suffer . While all these words mean "to put up with something trying or painful," tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful. // refused to tolerate such treatment

Q: When would 'abide' be a good substitute for 'tolerate'?

While the synonyms abide and tolerate are close in meaning, abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest. // cannot abide their rudeness

Q: When is it sensible to use 'bear' instead of 'tolerate'?

The synonyms bear and tolerate are sometimes interchangeable, but bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking. // forced to bear a tragic loss

Q: When could 'endure' be used to replace 'tolerate'?

The words endure and tolerate can be used in similar contexts, but endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties. // endured years of rejection

Q: Where would 'stand' be a reasonable alternative to 'tolerate'?

In some situations, the words stand and tolerate are roughly equivalent. However, stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching. // unable to stand teasing

Q: When can 'suffer' be used instead of 'tolerate'?

While in some cases nearly identical to tolerate , suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing. // suffering many insults

tolerate

verb

ˈtä-lə-ˌrāt

Definition of tolerate next

as in to let

to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference my boss simply doesn't tolerate tardiness

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as in to endure

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

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How does the verb tolerate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of tolerate are abide, bear, endure, stand, and suffer. While all these words mean "to put up with something trying or painful," tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

When would abide be a good substitute for tolerate?

While the synonyms abide and tolerate are close in meaning, abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

When is it sensible to use bear instead of tolerate?

The synonyms bear and tolerate are sometimes interchangeable, but bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

When could endure be used to replace tolerate?

The words endure and tolerate can be used in similar contexts, but endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

Where would stand be a reasonable alternative to tolerate?

In some situations, the words stand and tolerate are roughly equivalent. However, stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

When can suffer be used instead of tolerate?

While in some cases nearly identical to tolerate, suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

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 tolerate By training under this mismatch, the policy learns to tolerate uncertainty and partial observability. —

Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 18 May 2026 Some people may tolerate pure, gluten-free oats, but even these can trigger reactions with celiac disease. —

Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 18 May 2026 Look for hosta that can tolerate versus perform well in the full sun. —

Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026 While a generalist might tolerate an acceptable output, a domain expert can spot the subtle hallucinations or the derivative logic that signals an ideation bubble. —

Syed Ahmad, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tolerate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tolerate

Verb

The high ceilings and white walls let the whole space feel sunlit.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 May 2026
Braun told these hatchlings that they were too wedded to script, and needed to learn how to let sound tell the story.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 May 2026

Definition of let

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tolerantly

tolerate

tolerated

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“Tolerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tolerate. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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Synonyms of tolerate

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