tolerate
/ˈtɒləreɪt
/verb [with object]
1Allow the existence, occurrence, or practice of (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) without interference: a regime unwilling to tolerate dissent...
- Nor can Bulgaria afford to have its image besmeared again by being seen to be tolerating such practices.
- No nation can prosper where corrupt practices are tolerated or in some aspects even encouraged.
- This shocking and disgraceful practice should not be tolerated in any society.
Synonyms
allow, permit, authorize, sanction, condone, indulge, agree to, accede to, approve of;
endure, put up with, bear, take, stand, support, submit to, stomach, undergo;
accept, swallow, brook, countenance, admit of, recognize, acknowledge;
ignore, turn a blind eye to, wink at;
Scottish thole
informal stick, hack, abide
British informal wear, be doing with
archaic suffer
1.1Accept or endure (someone or something unpleasant or disliked) with forbearance: how was it that she could tolerate such noise?...
- Her mother barely tolerated her ex-husband, and he was way down on her list of favorite conversation topics.
- Robinson had been brought up by a mother who tolerated men, while believing herself superior.
- Thank you to my colleagues who have supported and tolerated me.
Synonyms
consume, take, stomach, digest, eat, receive, be subjected to, withstand subjection to, be treated with
2Be capable of continued subjection to (a drug, toxin, or environmental condition) without adverse reaction: lichens grow in conditions that no other plants tolerate...
- In addition, this medication is well tolerated, with few adverse effects.
- Antiviral therapy is not highly effective in transplant patients and poses additional problems for these individuals, who may have difficulty tolerating the potent drugs it involves.
- Patients tolerating the drugs initially are much less likely to develop side effects afterward.
Derivatives
tolerator
- Three theoretical polarities are widely recognized and are here called breeders (with emphasis or reproduction), competitors (with emphasis on agonistic behavior), and tolerators (with emphasis on coping with resource shortages).
- Breeders, competitors and tolerators are useful as categories, but are more informative as quantified axes, or polarities.
- Both pines are sclerophyllous like tolerators, as are dawn redwood and bald cypress.
Origin
Early 16th century (in the sense 'endure pain'): from Latin tolerat- 'endured', from the verb tolerare.