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B1 adjective #40 mais comum 13 min de leitura

tolerant

Top 40

At the A1 level, 'tolerant' is a word you might not use often, but it is good to know. It means you are okay with things that are different. For example, if you like quiet but your friend likes music, and you don't get angry, you are being tolerant. It is like saying 'It is okay' to things you don't like. You can use it to talk about food, like 'I am tolerant of spicy food,' which means you can eat it without a problem. It is a big word for a simple idea: being nice to people who are not like you. You can think of it as being a 'good friend' to everyone. In A1, we focus on the basic idea of 'accepting' or 'not being angry' when things are different. You might hear it in school or from a teacher. It is an adjective, so we use it with 'am', 'is', or 'are'. For example: 'He is tolerant.' or 'They are tolerant.' It helps you describe people who are calm and kind. Even if you don't use the word yourself, knowing it helps you understand when people talk about being kind to others. It is a positive word that makes the world a better place. Remember, it usually goes with the word 'of'. So, 'I am tolerant of...' is the best way to say it. This is a great word to start learning about how to describe people's personalities in English.

At the A2 level, you can start using 'tolerant' to describe people's characters and how they react to the world. It means showing respect for the rights or opinions of others. If you are tolerant, you don't judge people quickly. You might use it to talk about your family or friends. For example, 'My parents are very tolerant of my music.' This means they let you listen to your music even if they don't like it. It is also used for physical things. If you can stay in the sun for a long time, you are tolerant of the heat. At this level, you should try to use the phrase 'tolerant of' followed by a noun. This is the most common way to use the word. It is more advanced than just saying 'nice' or 'kind' because it specifically means you are accepting something that might be difficult. You will see this word in stories about different cultures or in simple news articles. It is a very useful word for talking about living in a big city where there are many different kinds of people. Being tolerant is a key part of being a good citizen. You can also use the opposite, 'intolerant,' to describe someone who is not accepting. For example, 'He is intolerant of noise.' This helps you give more detail when you describe someone. Learning this word helps you move beyond basic adjectives and start expressing more complex ideas about human behavior and physical limits.

At the B1 level, 'tolerant' is an essential word for discussing social issues, personal values, and health. You should understand that it implies a conscious choice to allow or endure something. It is not just a passive feeling; it is an attitude. In B1, you can use it in more complex sentences, such as 'It is important to be tolerant of different religious beliefs in a multicultural society.' Here, you are using the word to express a significant social value. You should also be familiar with its use in medical and biological contexts. For example, 'Some people are lactose tolerant, while others are not.' This shows you understand the word's range. You can also use adverbs to modify it, like 'fairly tolerant' or 'not very tolerant,' to be more precise. At this level, you are expected to distinguish between 'tolerant' (the adjective) and 'tolerance' (the noun). For instance, 'Tolerance is a virtue' vs. 'He is a tolerant person.' You might encounter this word in work environments, where 'workplace tolerance' is a common topic. It is also frequently used in discussions about the environment, such as 'drought-tolerant plants.' Using 'tolerant' correctly shows that you can handle abstract concepts and technical descriptions. It is a 'bridge' word that connects everyday conversation with more formal, academic, or professional English. Practice using it to describe your own limits, such as your tolerance for stress or your tolerance for certain types of behavior in others.

At the B2 level, you should be able to use 'tolerant' with nuance and in a variety of formal contexts. You understand that tolerance often involves a 'threshold'—a point beyond which acceptance ends. You can use it to discuss complex political situations, such as 'The government's tolerant approach to the protests was praised by international observers.' You should also be comfortable using it in the form of compound adjectives, like 'salt-tolerant' or 'zero-tolerant' (though 'zero-tolerance' is the noun form). At this level, you can compare 'tolerant' with synonyms like 'broad-minded,' 'permissive,' or 'forbearing,' and choose the one that fits the register of your writing. For example, you might use 'forbearing' in a formal letter to describe someone's patience. You should also understand the 'paradox of tolerance'—the idea that if a society is too tolerant, it might eventually be destroyed by the intolerant. This level of conceptual understanding allows you to participate in high-level debates. In professional settings, you might use 'tolerant' to describe system requirements, such as 'fault-tolerant systems' in computing, which can continue working even if a part fails. Your use of the word should be precise, showing an awareness of whether you are describing a moral stance, a physiological state, or a technical specification. You should also be able to use the word in the negative to make a strong point: 'The manager was remarkably intolerant of any deviation from the plan.' This shows you can use the word to create contrast and emphasis in your communication.

At the C1 level, your use of 'tolerant' should be sophisticated and context-aware. You recognize the subtle connotations the word carries, such as the potential for 'tolerance' to imply a position of power (where the person being tolerant is 'allowing' the other to exist). You can use it in academic essays to discuss the history of ideas, such as 'The Enlightenment fostered a more tolerant worldview that challenged the dogmatism of the era.' You are also adept at using it in technical and scientific contexts with high precision. For instance, in biology, you might discuss 'immunological tolerance,' or in engineering, 'geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.' You should be able to use the word to express irony or subtle criticism, such as 'His so-called tolerant attitude was actually a form of indifference.' At this level, you can effortlessly switch between the adjective 'tolerant,' the noun 'tolerance,' and the verb 'tolerate,' using them in complex structures like 'The degree to which a society is tolerant of dissent is often a measure of its stability.' You should also be familiar with idiomatic or near-idiomatic uses, and be able to modify the word with a wide range of adverbs like 'exceptionally,' 'grudgingly,' or 'inherently.' Your vocabulary should include related terms like 'pluralism,' 'dogmatism,' and 'permissiveness,' allowing you to place 'tolerant' within a broader lexical field. You understand that 'tolerant' is not just a description of character but can also be a description of a policy, a system, or a biological process, and you use it to add depth and clarity to your advanced communication.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'tolerant' and its place in the English language. You can use it to explore deep philosophical questions, such as the limits of tolerance in a liberal democracy or the physiological mechanisms of drug tolerance in the human brain. Your usage is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You can employ the word in creative writing to establish tone, perhaps describing a 'tolerant' landscape that endures the ravages of time, or a character whose 'tolerance' is a mask for deep-seated weariness. You are aware of the word's etymology from the Latin 'tolerare' (to bear or endure) and how this history informs its modern usage. You can use the word in highly specialized fields, from 'fault-tolerant architecture' in software engineering to 'glucose tolerance tests' in endocrinology, with total confidence. You understand the rhetorical power of the word and can use it to persuade, criticize, or analyze with great subtlety. For example, you might analyze how the meaning of 'tolerant' has shifted in public discourse over the last century. You are also capable of using the word in complex grammatical constructions, such as 'Had the regime been more tolerant of internal criticism, it might have avoided collapse.' At this level, 'tolerant' is a tool you use with precision, elegance, and a full understanding of its social, scientific, and philosophical implications. You can discuss the 'politics of tolerance' or 'biological tolerance zones' with equal ease, showing a vocabulary that is both broad and deep.

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

tolerant em 30 segundos

Tolerant is an adjective describing the ability to accept differences in others without prejudice or anger, fostering social harmony and mutual respect.
In biology and medicine, it refers to the capacity of an organism or system to endure harsh conditions or the effects of substances.
Grammatically, it is most often followed by the preposition 'of', as in 'tolerant of noise' or 'tolerant of different viewpoints'.
It is a key value in democratic societies, representing a middle ground between total agreement and outright rejection or hostility.

The word tolerant is a multifaceted adjective that primarily describes a person's capacity to endure or accept things they might not necessarily agree with or enjoy. At its core, being tolerant is about the absence of narrow-mindedness. In a social context, it refers to the ability to live harmoniously alongside people of different races, religions, or lifestyles without attempting to change them or expressing hostility toward them. This is not merely about 'liking' everyone; it is about the principled decision to allow others the freedom to exist as they are. When we say a society is tolerant, we are describing a culture that values pluralism and diversity over conformity. This word is frequently used in political discourse, human rights discussions, and educational settings to promote peace and understanding.

Social Context: In modern sociology, being tolerant is seen as a foundational pillar of democracy. It involves the active recognition of the rights of others to hold differing viewpoints, even when those viewpoints are perceived as challenging or incorrect by the majority. It is the bridge between conflict and coexistence.

The city is known for its tolerant attitude toward newcomers from all walks of life.

Beyond the social sphere, tolerant has a significant biological and medical meaning. It describes an organism's ability to withstand environmental stress or the effects of a substance. For instance, a plant might be drought-tolerant, meaning it can survive with very little water. In medicine, a patient might become tolerant to a specific medication, meaning their body has adapted to it, and higher doses are required to achieve the same effect. This nuance is crucial because it shifts the focus from 'acceptance' to 'endurance.' Whether it is a person enduring a loud neighbor or a body enduring a drug, the underlying theme is the capacity to manage a presence that is taxing or intrusive.

Biological Context: Biological tolerance refers to the range of conditions within which an organism can function. This includes temperature tolerance, salt tolerance in marine life, and chemical tolerance in bacteria.

Cacti are highly tolerant of extreme heat and arid conditions.

Furthermore, the word is used to describe personal temperament. A tolerant person is someone who is slow to anger and quick to overlook minor faults in others. In a workplace, a tolerant manager might be one who allows employees to work in their own style as long as the results are good. This flexibility is often contrasted with being 'rigid' or 'strict.' In personal relationships, tolerance is often the secret to longevity, as it allows partners to accept each other's quirks and imperfections without constant criticism. It is a quiet strength, often requiring more emotional intelligence than the alternative of immediate judgment.

Interpersonal Context: In friendships, being tolerant means accepting that your friends will have different moods, habits, and priorities, and choosing to support them regardless of these differences.

She is very tolerant of her younger brother's constant questions.

The teacher was surprisingly tolerant of the noise in the classroom today.

He has become more tolerant of spicy food after living in Mexico for a year.

Using the word tolerant correctly requires an understanding of its typical grammatical patterns. Most commonly, it is followed by the preposition 'of'. We say someone is 'tolerant of' a situation, a person, or a behavior. For example, 'The government must be tolerant of dissent.' Occasionally, 'towards' is used, as in 'He is tolerant towards other religions,' but 'of' remains the standard choice in most English-speaking regions. It functions as a predicative adjective (after a verb like 'to be') or an attributive adjective (before a noun). Understanding these placements helps in constructing natural-sounding sentences that convey the intended level of acceptance or endurance.

Prepositional Usage: Always remember the 'tolerant of' pattern. It is the most natural way to link the quality of tolerance to the object being tolerated. Avoid using 'with' or 'at' in this context.

You need to be more tolerant of people who have different work styles than you.

When describing physical or biological capabilities, the word often appears in compound forms or specific scientific phrases. You might hear about 'salt-tolerant' crops or 'heat-tolerant' materials. In these cases, tolerant acts as a suffix that defines the resilience of the subject. This usage is very common in technical writing, agriculture, and engineering. It implies that the subject can maintain its integrity or function even when exposed to harsh elements. In medical sentences, it often describes the body's reaction to drugs, where 'becoming tolerant' indicates a physiological change that reduces the drug's effectiveness over time.

Compound Adjectives: In technical contexts, use hyphens to create compound adjectives like 'drought-tolerant' or 'frost-tolerant'. This makes your writing more precise and professional.

These new wheat varieties are more tolerant of soil salinity.

In more formal or academic writing, tolerant is often paired with adverbs to specify the degree of acceptance. Words like 'highly,' 'remarkably,' 'increasingly,' or 'broadly' are common modifiers. For example, 'The administration adopted an increasingly tolerant stance toward student protests.' This allows the writer to show a progression or a specific intensity of the trait. It is also useful to contrast it with its antonym, 'intolerant,' to highlight a shift in policy or attitude. Using 'tolerant' in the negative (e.g., 'not very tolerant') is a common way to politely describe someone who is judgmental or easily annoyed.

Adverbial Modification: Using adverbs like 'extremely' or 'partially' helps refine the meaning. It shows that tolerance is not always an all-or-nothing quality but exists on a spectrum.

Historians argue that the empire was remarkably tolerant for its time.

Are you tolerant of lactose, or do you need dairy-free milk?

The boss is usually tolerant of occasional lateness if the work gets done.

You will encounter the word tolerant in a variety of real-world settings, ranging from the evening news to a visit to the doctor. In the news, it is a staple of political and social commentary. Reporters often discuss whether a country is becoming more or less tolerant of immigrants, religious minorities, or political dissent. It is a key term in debates about 'cancel culture' and free speech, where people argue about the limits of what a tolerant society should permit. In these contexts, the word carries a heavy moral and ethical weight, often linked to the health of a democracy.

News and Media: Media outlets use 'tolerant' to describe the prevailing social climate. It often appears in headlines about legislative changes or social movements aiming for greater inclusivity.

The documentary explores how a once tolerant community became divided by ideology.

In the workplace, tolerant is a frequent term in Human Resources (HR) training and corporate culture statements. Companies often pride themselves on having a 'tolerant and inclusive environment.' You might hear it during a job interview when an employer describes the team culture or during a performance review if a manager suggests that an employee needs to be more tolerant of their colleagues' differing opinions. In this setting, tolerance is framed as a professional skill—part of 'emotional intelligence'—that allows for better collaboration and fewer interpersonal conflicts.

Professional Environment: In offices, 'tolerant' is often synonymous with being a 'team player.' It refers to the ability to handle stress and diverse personalities without causing friction.

Our company policy requires all staff to be tolerant of diverse cultural practices.

Finally, you will hear tolerant in very mundane, everyday conversations. It might come up when talking about food ('I'm not very tolerant of spicy food'), the weather ('He's very tolerant of the cold'), or even parenting ('She's much more tolerant of her kids' mess than I am'). In these cases, it's a more casual way of saying 'I can handle it' or 'It doesn't bother me.' This versatility makes it one of the most useful adjectives in the English language, as it bridges the gap between high-level philosophical concepts and the practicalities of daily life.

Everyday Conversation: People use 'tolerant' to describe their personal limits and preferences regarding physical sensations or social annoyances.

I'm fairly tolerant of noise, but that construction work is just too much.

Is this plant tolerant of low light conditions?

The audience was very tolerant of the technical glitches during the play.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing tolerant with its related noun 'tolerance' or the verb 'tolerate.' While they all share the same root, their grammatical functions are distinct. You cannot say 'I have a tolerant for spicy food'; you must say 'I have a *tolerance* for spicy food' or 'I am *tolerant* of spicy food.' Mixing up these parts of speech can make a sentence confusing. Another common error is the choice of preposition. Many learners mistakenly use 'tolerant with' or 'tolerant to.' While 'tolerant to' is sometimes used in medical contexts (e.g., 'tolerant to penicillin'), 'tolerant of' is the standard for social and general contexts.

Word Class Confusion: Ensure you are using the adjective form when describing a person or thing. Use 'tolerance' when you need a noun to represent the concept itself.

Incorrect: He is very tolerance of his neighbors. Correct: He is very tolerant of his neighbors.

Another mistake involves the nuance of the word. Some people use tolerant when they actually mean 'accepting' or 'supportive.' While tolerance is a form of acceptance, it often implies a degree of endurance or 'putting up with' something. If you truly love and agree with something, 'tolerant' might sound too cold or indifferent. For example, saying 'I am tolerant of my best friend's hobbies' might suggest you don't actually like them, but you allow them to happen. If you want to show enthusiasm, use words like 'supportive' or 'enthusiastic' instead. Understanding this subtle 'distance' in the word tolerant is key to using it with the right tone.

Nuance and Tone: Be careful not to use 'tolerant' when you mean you are 'happy' about something. Tolerance implies that there is something potentially annoying or different that you are choosing to ignore or accept.

Saying 'I am tolerant of your presence' can actually sound quite rude!

Finally, learners sometimes confuse tolerant with 'tolerable.' 'Tolerable' means that something is 'bearable' or 'okay' (e.g., 'The pain was tolerable'). It describes the thing being endured, whereas tolerant describes the person or thing doing the enduring. If you say 'The weather was tolerant,' you are mistakenly giving the weather the human quality of being open-minded. You should say 'The weather was tolerable' or 'I was tolerant of the bad weather.' This distinction between the subject and the object is a classic hurdle for non-native speakers but is essential for clear communication.

Tolerant vs. Tolerable: Use 'tolerant' for the person/organism. Use 'tolerable' for the situation/feeling. They are not interchangeable.

The noise level was tolerable, but the librarian was not very tolerant of our whispering.

Incorrect: She is tolerant to the heat. Correct: She is tolerant of the heat.

Incorrect: I have a tolerant for milk. Correct: I am tolerant of milk.

While tolerant is a powerful word, English offers many alternatives that can provide more specific meaning depending on the context. If you are talking about someone who is willing to consider new ideas, 'open-minded' is a fantastic alternative. It suggests a more active engagement with diversity than 'tolerant' does. If someone is very flexible and doesn't have strict rules, 'permissive' or 'lenient' might be better. These words often describe parents or authorities who allow a lot of freedom. However, 'permissive' can sometimes have a slightly negative connotation, suggesting a lack of discipline, whereas 'tolerant' is generally seen as a positive, principled trait.

Tolerant vs. Open-minded: 'Tolerant' means you allow something to exist. 'Open-minded' means you are willing to try to understand or even adopt it. Open-mindedness is a more active state.

He is tolerant of his neighbors' music, but he isn't open-minded enough to actually listen to it.

In a more formal or academic setting, you might use 'forbearing' or 'long-suffering.' These words emphasize the patience required to be tolerant. 'Forbearing' suggests a deliberate restraint from responding to provocation, while 'long-suffering' implies that the person has been tolerant for a very long time despite significant difficulty. If you are describing a society or a person who accepts many different views, 'pluralistic' or 'broad-minded' are excellent choices. 'Broad-minded' is particularly good for describing someone who is not easily shocked by unconventional behavior. In contrast, 'patient' is a simpler, more common word that overlaps with tolerance but focuses more on the passage of time and the management of frustration.

Tolerant vs. Patient: Patience is about waiting without getting angry. Tolerance is about accepting something different without judging it. You need patience to be tolerant, but they are not the same.

The broad-minded professor encouraged students to challenge every theory.

When discussing physical or biological resilience, synonyms include 'resistant,' 'hardy,' or 'robust.' A 'heat-resistant' material is similar to a 'heat-tolerant' one, but 'resistant' often implies a stronger barrier—the heat doesn't affect it at all—whereas 'tolerant' implies it can handle the heat even if it is affected. 'Hardy' is frequently used in gardening to describe plants that can survive the winter. 'Robust' describes a system or person that is strong and unlikely to fail under pressure. Choosing the right synonym helps you convey the exact degree of strength or acceptance you mean to express, making your English sound more sophisticated and precise.

Tolerant vs. Resistant: Resistance is the ability to fight off or remain unaffected. Tolerance is the ability to function despite the presence of the stressor.

This smartphone is water-resistant, but the software is not very tolerant of user errors.

She is lenient with her students' deadlines but not tolerant of cheating.

The hardy shrubs survived the frost, proving they are very cold-tolerant.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutro

Informal

Child friendly

Gíria

Curiosidade

The word 'tolerate' and 'tolerant' share the same ancient root as the word 'thole', an old English word meaning to endure, which is still used in some Scottish dialects today.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /ˈtɒl.ər.ənt/

US /ˈtɑː.lɚ.ənt/

The stress is on the first syllable: TOL-er-ant.

Rima com

colorant exuberant (near rhyme) ignorant (near rhyme) itinerant reverent (near rhyme) different (near rhyme) deodorant aspirant

Erros comuns

Pronouncing the 'a' in 'ant' too clearly (it should be a schwa /ə/).
Stressing the second or third syllable.
Confusing the pronunciation with 'tolerance' (ending in /əns/ instead of /ənt/).

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 3/5

The word is common in news and textbooks, making it moderately easy to recognize.

Escrita 4/5

Requires knowledge of the correct preposition ('of') and the difference between adjective/noun forms.

Expressão oral 3/5

The pronunciation is straightforward once the stress on the first syllable is mastered.

Audição 3/5

Easily understood in context, though it can be confused with 'tolerance' in fast speech.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

Accept Different Opinion Kind Patient

Aprenda a seguir

Tolerance Tolerate Diversity Inclusion Pluralism

Avançado

Forbearance Dogmatism Resilience Endurance Bigotry

Gramática essencial

Adjective vs. Noun

He is tolerant (adj). He has tolerance (noun).

Prepositional Collocation

Tolerant of (standard). Tolerant to (medical/technical).

Comparative Forms

More tolerant / Most tolerant.

Adverbial Modification

Remarkably tolerant / Highly tolerant.

Compound Adjectives

Drought-tolerant (hyphenated when before a noun).

Exemplos por nível

He is a tolerant man.

Il est un homme tolérant.

Subject + is + adjective.

Are you tolerant of spicy food?

Es-tu tolérant à la nourriture épicée ?

Question form with 'tolerant of'.

The teacher is very tolerant.

Le professeur est très tolérant.

Using 'very' to modify the adjective.

Be tolerant of your friends.

Soyez tolérant envers vos amis.

Imperative mood (giving advice).

She is tolerant of the cold.

Elle est tolérante au froid.

Adjective + preposition 'of'.

They are not very tolerant.

Ils ne sont pas très tolérants.

Negative form with 'not'.

Is your cat tolerant of dogs?

Ton chat est-il tolérant envers les chiens ?

Interrogative sentence.

We should be tolerant.

Nous devrions être tolérants.

Using the modal 'should'.

My parents are tolerant of my new hobbies.

Mes parents sont tolérants vis-à-vis de mes nouveaux passe-temps.

Plural subject with 'are'.

He became more tolerant as he got older.

Il est devenu plus tolérant en vieillissant.

Comparative 'more tolerant'.

Is this plant tolerant of dry soil?

Cette plante est-elle tolérante au sol sec ?

Adjective describing a non-human subject.

The city is very tolerant of different cultures.

La ville est très tolérante envers les différentes cultures.

Collective noun 'city' as subject.

You need to be tolerant of other people's mistakes.

Tu dois être tolérant envers les erreurs des autres.

Infinitive 'to be' after 'need'.

She is remarkably tolerant of the noise next door.

Elle est remarquablement tolérante au bruit d'à côté.

Adverb 'remarkably' modifying the adjective.

The boss is not tolerant of being late.

Le patron n'est pas tolérant envers les retards.

Gerund 'being late' after 'of'.

Are you tolerant of people who disagree with you?

Es-tu tolérant envers les gens qui ne sont pas d'accord avec toi ?

Relative clause 'who disagree with you'.

A tolerant society is a peaceful society.

Une société tolérante est une société pacifique.

Attributive adjective before the noun.

He is tolerant of his children's messy rooms.

Il est tolérant envers les chambres en désordre de ses enfants.

Possessive 'children's' before the object of 'of'.

The medication made him more tolerant of the pain.

Le médicament l'a rendu plus tolérant à la douleur.

Causative structure with 'made'.

We must learn to be more tolerant of diversity.

Nous devons apprendre à être plus tolérants envers la diversité.

Modal 'must' + 'learn to be'.

She has always been tolerant of her husband's quirks.

Elle a toujours été tolérante envers les manies de son mari.

Present perfect tense.

The government is becoming less tolerant of dissent.

Le gouvernement devient moins tolérant envers la dissidence.

Present continuous with 'becoming'.

Is your skin tolerant of this new cream?

Ta peau tolère-t-elle cette nouvelle crème ?

Subject-verb agreement with 'skin'.

He is fairly tolerant, but he has his limits.

Il est assez tolérant, mais il a ses limites.

Contrast using 'but'.

The local council adopted a tolerant stance on street art.

Le conseil local a adopté une position tolérante sur le street art.

Adjective modifying the noun 'stance'.

These crops are genetically modified to be salt-tolerant.

Ces cultures sont génétiquement modifiées pour être tolérantes au sel.

Compound adjective 'salt-tolerant'.

The company prides itself on being a tolerant employer.

L'entreprise est fière d'être un employeur tolérant.

Reflexive verb 'prides itself'.

She was surprisingly tolerant of the criticism she received.

Elle a été étonnamment tolérante face aux critiques qu'elle a reçues.

Adverb 'surprisingly' + adjective.

Being tolerant does not mean you have to agree with everything.

Être tolérant ne signifie pas que vous devez être d'accord avec tout.

Gerund 'Being tolerant' as the subject.

He is not very tolerant of people who lack ambition.

Il n'est pas très tolérant envers les gens qui manquent d'ambition.

Relative clause 'who lack ambition'.

The administration is increasingly tolerant of student activism.

L'administration est de plus en plus tolérante envers l'activisme étudiant.

Adverb 'increasingly' showing a trend.

The body can become tolerant to certain antibiotics over time.

Le corps peut devenir tolérant à certains antibiotiques avec le temps.

Modal 'can' + 'become tolerant to'.

The philosopher argued for a more tolerant approach to religious pluralism.

Le philosophe a plaidé pour une approche plus tolérante du pluralisme religieux.

Formal academic tone.

A truly tolerant person acknowledges their own biases.

Une personne vraiment tolérante reconnaît ses propres préjugés.

Adverb 'truly' modifying the adjective.

The system is designed to be fault-tolerant, ensuring continuous operation.

Le système est conçu pour être tolérant aux pannes, assurant un fonctionnement continu.

Technical compound adjective 'fault-tolerant'.

Her tolerant nature made her an excellent mediator in the dispute.

Sa nature tolérante a fait d'elle une excellente médiatrice dans le conflit.

Adjective phrase as the subject.

The empire's decline was partly due to its becoming less tolerant of ethnic minorities.

Le déclin de l'empire était en partie dû au fait qu'il devenait moins tolérant envers les minorités ethniques.

Possessive gerund 'its becoming'.

He was grudgingly tolerant of the new regulations.

Il tolérait à contrecœur les nouvelles réglementations.

Adverb 'grudgingly' adding nuance.

Is the current political climate truly tolerant of dissenting voices?

Le climat politique actuel est-il vraiment tolérant envers les voix dissidentes ?

Complex interrogative structure.

The research focuses on drought-tolerant species in the Sahara.

La recherche se concentre sur les espèces tolérantes à la sécheresse dans le Sahara.

Scientific compound adjective.

The paradox of tolerance suggests that unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance.

Le paradoxe de la tolérance suggère qu'une tolérance illimitée doit mener à la disparition de la tolérance.

Abstract philosophical subject.

He possessed an inherently tolerant disposition that endeared him to all.

Il possédait un tempérament intrinsèquement tolérant qui le faisait apprécier de tous.

Advanced vocabulary ('inherently', 'disposition', 'endeared').

The software's fault-tolerant architecture is a testament to the engineering team's foresight.

L'architecture tolérante aux pannes du logiciel est un témoignage de la clairvoyance de l'équipe d'ingénierie.

Complex possessive and technical terms.

Critics argue that the policy is merely a facade of being tolerant, masking deeper systemic issues.

Les critiques soutiennent que la politique n'est qu'une façade de tolérance, masquant des problèmes systémiques plus profonds.

Subordinate clause with 'masking'.

The patient's body had grown so tolerant to the drug that it was no longer efficacious.

Le corps du patient était devenu si tolérant au médicament qu'il n'était plus efficace.

So...that construction with advanced medical term 'efficacious'.

A nuanced understanding of history requires being tolerant of the moral complexities of the past.

Une compréhension nuancée de l'histoire exige d'être tolérant envers les complexités morales du passé.

Gerund phrase as the object of 'requires'.

The city's reputation as a tolerant haven was built over centuries of trade and migration.

La réputation de la ville en tant que refuge tolérant s'est bâtie sur des siècles de commerce et de migration.

Passive voice 'was built'.

One must be exceptionally tolerant to navigate the vitriol of modern social media.

Il faut être exceptionnellement tolérant pour naviguer dans le vitriol des médias sociaux modernes.

Formal 'one' as subject + adverb 'exceptionally'.

Colocações comuns

tolerant of

highly tolerant

remarkably tolerant

tolerant society

tolerant attitude

become tolerant

drought-tolerant

salt-tolerant

fault-tolerant

increasingly tolerant

Frases Comuns

Zero tolerance

Tolerant of dissent

Lactose tolerant

Heat tolerant

Religious tolerance

Tolerant of ambiguity

Gluten tolerant

Tolerant of failure

Cold tolerant

Tolerant of others

Frequentemente confundido com

tolerant vs Tolerable

Tolerable describes the thing being endured (e.g., the pain was tolerable), while tolerant describes the person enduring it.

tolerant vs Tolerance

Tolerance is the noun (the concept), while tolerant is the adjective (the description).

tolerant vs Patient

Patience is about time and calm; tolerance is about accepting differences or enduring stress.

Expressões idiomáticas

"Live and let live"

An idiomatic way to express a tolerant philosophy toward others' lives.

I don't agree with his lifestyle, but live and let live, I say.

informal

"Give someone some slack"

To be tolerant of someone's mistakes or poor behavior because they are in a difficult situation.

He's new to the job, so give him some slack if he's slow.

informal

"Turn a blind eye"

To be 'too' tolerant by pretending not to see something wrong.

The teacher turned a blind eye to the students whispering.

neutral

"Bite one's tongue"

To choose to be tolerant by not saying something that might cause conflict.

I had to bite my tongue when she criticized my cooking.

informal

"Grin and bear it"

To be tolerant of a difficult situation by enduring it without complaining.

The flight was delayed six hours, so we just had to grin and bear it.

informal

"Broad shoulders"

Describing someone who is tolerant of a lot of responsibility or criticism.

You need broad shoulders to be a politician.

neutral

"Take it on the chin"

To be tolerant of misfortune or criticism without complaining.

He took the bad news on the chin and kept working.

informal

"Weather the storm"

To be tolerant of a difficult period until things get better.

The company managed to weather the storm during the recession.

neutral

"Put up with"

A common phrasal verb meaning to be tolerant of something annoying.

I don't know how she puts up with his constant complaining.

informal

"Meet someone halfway"

To be tolerant by compromising with someone who has a different view.

We disagreed on the price, but we met halfway.

neutral

Fácil de confundir

tolerant vs Tolerable

They look and sound similar.

'Tolerable' means 'bearable' or 'passable'. 'Tolerant' means 'accepting' or 'resilient'. You are tolerant of a tolerable situation.

The noise was tolerable, and luckily, the librarian was tolerant.

tolerant vs Permissive

Both involve allowing things to happen.

'Permissive' often implies a lack of rules or discipline (sometimes negative). 'Tolerant' implies a principled acceptance of diversity (usually positive).

The permissive parents let their kids do anything; the tolerant parents let their kids express themselves.

tolerant vs Open-minded

Both involve accepting new things.

'Open-minded' is more active—you are willing to learn and change. 'Tolerant' can be passive—you just allow it to exist without interfering.

I am tolerant of his religion, but I am not open-minded enough to join it.

tolerant vs Resistant

Both describe enduring something difficult.

'Resistant' means you are not affected by it. 'Tolerant' means you are affected but can still function.

The bacteria are resistant to the drug; the patient is tolerant of the side effects.

tolerant vs Lenient

Both involve not being strict.

'Lenient' is used specifically for people in power (judges, teachers) who give light punishments. 'Tolerant' is a general personality trait.

The lenient judge gave him a small fine because he was tolerant of the man's difficult circumstances.

Padrões de frases

I am tolerant.

He is tolerant of [noun].

He is tolerant of noise.

It is important to be tolerant of [noun].

It is important to be tolerant of different cultures.

[Noun] is becoming more tolerant of [noun].

The world is becoming more tolerant of diversity.

A [adverb] tolerant [noun] is [adjective].

A highly tolerant society is often more stable.

The [noun] of being tolerant is [noun].

The paradox of being tolerant is a complex philosophical issue.

She has always been tolerant of [noun].

She has always been tolerant of his mistakes.

These [noun] are [adjective]-tolerant.

These plants are drought-tolerant.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

Verbos

Adjetivos

Relacionado

Como usar

frequency

Common in both spoken and written English, especially in educational and political contexts.

Erros comuns

I am tolerant with noise. → I am tolerant of noise.
The standard preposition to use with 'tolerant' is 'of'. 'With' is incorrect in this context.
He has a very tolerant. → He is very tolerant. / He has a lot of tolerance.
'Tolerant' is an adjective, so it needs to follow 'is' or come before a noun. 'Tolerance' is the noun form.
The weather was very tolerant today. → The weather was very tolerable today.
'Tolerant' describes a person's attitude. 'Tolerable' describes a situation that can be endured.
She is tolerant to different religions. → She is tolerant of different religions.
While 'to' is used in medical contexts, 'of' is the correct choice for social and religious contexts.
I am not tolerance of lying. → I am not tolerant of lying.
You must use the adjective 'tolerant' to describe yourself, not the noun 'tolerance'.

Dicas

Use 'of' after 'tolerant'

Always remember the pattern 'tolerant of'. It's the most common mistake for learners to use 'with' or 'to'. For example: 'She is tolerant of his behavior.'

Tolerant vs. Tolerable

Don't confuse these two! 'Tolerant' is for the person (I am tolerant), and 'tolerable' is for the thing (The noise is tolerable).

Stress the first syllable

Say 'TOL-er-ant'. If you stress the wrong part, people might not understand you. The 'TOL' should be clear and loud.

Use it for diversity

When talking about different cultures or religions, 'tolerant' is a very respectful and professional word to use.

Compound adjectives

In science or gardening, use hyphens like 'heat-tolerant' or 'cold-tolerant'. This makes you sound like an expert.

Tolerance isn't agreement

Remember that being tolerant doesn't mean you have to agree. It just means you allow the other person to have their own space.

Adverb pairs

Pair 'tolerant' with adverbs like 'remarkably', 'highly', or 'increasingly' to add more detail to your writing.

Avoid 'tolerant' for friends

If you say you are 'tolerant' of your best friend, it might sound like you don't actually like them. Use 'accepting' or 'supportive' instead.

Drug tolerance

If a doctor says you are 'tolerant' to a drug, it means the drug isn't working as well as it used to. This is a very specific medical meaning.

The Paradox of Tolerance

This is a famous idea that a society that is too tolerant might be destroyed by people who are not tolerant at all. It's a great topic for an essay!

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of a 'TALL-er-ant'. A tall ant can reach more things and see more perspectives, making it more 'tolerant' of others!

Associação visual

Imagine a bridge connecting two different islands. The bridge is 'tolerant' because it allows people to cross and meet in the middle.

Word Web

Acceptance Patience Diversity Endurance Open-minded Respect Resilience Harmony

Desafio

Try to go through a whole day without complaining about something that annoys you. This is a practice in being tolerant. At the end of the day, write down how it felt.

Origem da palavra

Derived from the Latin 'tolerantem' (nominative 'tolerans'), which is the present participle of 'tolerare'. The Latin root means 'to bear, endure, support, or sustain'. It entered Middle French as 'tolérant' and then English in the late 18th century.

Significado original: The original meaning was focused on the physical act of bearing a weight or enduring pain.

Indo-European > Italic > Latin > Romance > English.

Contexto cultural

Be aware that in some modern social justice contexts, the word 'tolerant' can be seen as slightly patronizing, as it implies 'putting up with' someone rather than fully accepting them as equals.

In the US and UK, 'tolerance' is often discussed in the context of the First Amendment or human rights laws. It is a key part of the 'liberal' tradition.

Voltaire is often (though perhaps inaccurately) associated with the quote: 'I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.' This is the ultimate expression of being tolerant. The 'Tolerance Museum' in Los Angeles is dedicated to teaching about the Holocaust and promoting human rights. The United Nations observes the 'International Day for Tolerance' on November 16th every year.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Social/Political

Tolerant society
Tolerant of dissent
Promote tolerance
Lack of tolerance

Medical/Biological

Drug tolerance
Lactose tolerant
Drought-tolerant species
Become tolerant to

Workplace

Tolerant environment
Tolerant of mistakes
Professional tolerance
Zero-tolerance policy

Personal Relationships

Tolerant of quirks
Be more tolerant
Fairly tolerant
Not very tolerant

Technology

Fault-tolerant system
Error tolerant
Tolerant design
Latency tolerant

Iniciadores de conversa

"Do you think people are becoming more or less tolerant these days?"

"What is one thing you find it very hard to be tolerant of?"

"Are you tolerant of spicy food, or do you prefer mild flavors?"

"How tolerant is your workplace of people making mistakes?"

"Do you think it's possible to be 'too tolerant' of certain behaviors?"

Temas para diário

Describe a time when you had to be very tolerant of someone you didn't agree with. How did it feel?

Write about the qualities of a tolerant society. What would it look like in your city?

Are you more tolerant of physical discomfort (like cold or pain) or social discomfort (like awkwardness)? Why?

Reflect on a person you know who is exceptionally tolerant. What can you learn from them?

Discuss the difference between being 'tolerant' and being 'accepting'. Which one do you strive for?

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

Generally, it is a positive word. It suggests a lack of prejudice and a peaceful attitude. However, in some contexts, it can sound a bit cold, as if you are only 'putting up with' someone rather than truly liking them. For example, 'I am tolerant of my neighbor' sounds less friendly than 'I like my neighbor.'

In 90% of cases, you should use 'tolerant of'. This is used for social situations, noise, opinions, etc. 'Tolerant to' is mostly used in medicine or science, such as 'The patient became tolerant to the painkiller' or 'The bacteria are tolerant to heat.'

Yes, you can. If you can eat spicy food without getting an upset stomach, you are 'tolerant of spicy food'. If you can drink milk without problems, you are 'lactose tolerant'. It's a very common way to describe physical reactions to food.

A tolerant society is one where people of different races, religions, and backgrounds live together peacefully. It means the laws and the people allow others to have their own beliefs and lifestyles without being attacked or discriminated against.

They are similar but not the same. Patience is about waiting and not getting angry. Tolerance is about accepting things that are different or difficult. You need patience to be tolerant, but you can be patient (waiting for a bus) without needing to be tolerant of anything.

You often use it as a compound adjective. For example: 'This is a drought-tolerant plant.' This means the plant can survive with very little water. You can also say 'This plant is tolerant of low light.'

The most common opposite is 'intolerant'. You can also use words like 'prejudiced', 'narrow-minded', or 'bigoted' depending on the situation. 'Intolerant' is the most direct and neutral opposite.

Yes, in engineering, we use 'fault-tolerant'. This means a machine or computer system can keep working even if one of its parts fails. It's a very important concept in computer science and aviation.

Yes, it is considered a B1 (Intermediate) level word. This means you should know it for general conversation, reading news, and expressing your opinions on social topics.

The noun form is 'tolerance'. For example: 'We need more tolerance in the world.' There is also 'toleration', but it is more formal and used specifically for the act of allowing something, like 'religious toleration'.