Quick answer: Intolerant describes a person, attitude, or body that will not accept or cannot cope with something different: He is intolerant of other people's opinions. Intolerable describes a situation, condition, or behaviour that cannot be endured or put up with: The noise from the building site was intolerable. For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘intolerant’.
Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| intolerant | adjective | unwilling to accept different views/behaviour; unable to tolerate a substance | She is intolerant of lateness. |
| intolerable | adjective | unable to be endured; unbearable | The heat in the office was intolerable. |
Using Intolerant
Intolerant describes a person's attitude — being unwilling to accept beliefs, behaviour, or people different from their own — or, medically, a body's inability to process a substance (lactose intolerant).
The regime was intolerant of any political dissent.
He can be quite intolerant of people who disagree with him.
She discovered she was intolerant to gluten last year.
Society is becoming less intolerant of different lifestyles.
Using Intolerable
Intolerable describes a condition, situation, or level of behaviour so extreme that it cannot reasonably be borne or accepted — it describes the thing itself, not a person's attitude toward it.
The working conditions in the factory were intolerable.
She found his constant interruptions intolerable.
The pain became intolerable by the third day.
Living under such intolerable pressure took a toll on his health.
Memory Trick
IntolerANT describes a person, like an "ANT" carrying a narrow view around — think a person's closed attitude. IntolerABLE ends like "unbearABLE" — think a situation that cannot be borne.
Common Mistakes
✗ He is intolerable of other cultures.
✓ He is intolerant of other cultures.
✗ The traffic noise was completely intolerant.
✓ The traffic noise was completely intolerable.
Tips to Avoid Confusion
- Ask: does this describe a person's attitude or body's reaction? Use intolerant.
- Ask: does this describe a situation, condition, or level of something that can't be endured? Use intolerable.
- Intolerant is usually followed by "of" (intolerant of criticism) or "to" (medically, intolerant to lactose).
- Intolerable is usually paired with nouns like conditions, pain, heat, noise, or behaviour.
For more on related grammar, see word formation. Also confusing: Amoral vs Immoral, Adverse vs Averse, Allow vs Let. Browse all confusing word pairs →
Quick Check: Intolerant or Intolerable?
4 fill-in-the-blank questions — choose the correct word for each sentence.
1. “The old king was ___ of any criticism.” (attitude)
2. “The smell in the kitchen became ___ after a while.” (unbearable)
3. “My sister is ___ to dairy products.” (can't process it)
4. “The delays at the airport were simply ___.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between intolerant and intolerable?
Intolerant describes a person, attitude, or body unwilling or unable to accept something different: "He is intolerant of criticism." Intolerable describes a situation or condition that cannot be endured: "The noise was intolerable." Intolerant is about the reacting subject; intolerable is about the unbearable thing itself.
What does 'lactose intolerant' mean?
Lactose intolerant describes someone whose body cannot properly digest lactose, the sugar found in milk, often causing digestive discomfort: "She is lactose intolerant, so she avoids dairy." This is a medical use of intolerant, not a personality trait.
Can a situation be described as intolerant?
Not typically — intolerant usually describes people, attitudes, regimes, or bodies, not abstract situations. For a situation that is unbearable, intolerable is the correct word.
Can a person be described as intolerable?
Yes, informally, to mean someone's behaviour is so unbearable that they themselves become hard to tolerate: "His constant boasting made him utterly intolerable at parties." Here it describes the effect of his behaviour on others, similar to describing a condition.
What preposition usually follows intolerant?
Intolerant is often followed by 'of' when describing an attitude ("intolerant of dissent") or 'to' in medical contexts ("intolerant to penicillin"). Choosing the right preposition depends on whether you mean attitude or physical reaction.
What is the noun form of intolerant?
The noun is 'intolerance': "religious intolerance", "lactose intolerance". It describes either the unwillingness to accept differences or the body's inability to process a substance.
What is the noun form of intolerable?
There isn't a widely used distinct noun form; you would typically describe 'intolerable conditions' or 'an intolerable situation' using the adjective directly, or use a related noun like 'unbearableness' (rare).
Are intolerant and intolerable direct opposites of the same word?
They are related — both come from 'tolerate' — but they are not simply opposites of each other. Intolerant is the negative of 'tolerant' (accepting), while intolerable is the negative of 'tolerable' (bearable). They describe different things: attitude versus endurability.
Give a sentence using both words correctly.
"The manager, intolerant of any excuse for lateness, created intolerable pressure for staff already struggling with childcare." Here intolerant describes the manager's attitude, and intolerable describes the resulting unbearable working conditions.
How can I remember intolerant vs intolerable?
Intoler-ANT describes a person (like the little 'ant' carrying a rigid attitude). Intoler-ABLE ends like 'unbearABLE' — describing something that cannot be borne. Person = intolerant; unbearable situation = intolerable.