tolerant
adjective
tol·er·ant
ˈtä-lə-rənt 
ˈtäl-rənt
1
a
: willing to accept the beliefs, feelings, habits, or behaviors of another group, culture, etc. as legitimate even when they differ from one's own
Despite his strong opinions, he was tolerant enough to be friends with very different kinds of people …—
Ben Sixsmith
Ben SixsmithAmerican society progressed, leaving the bluenose mentality behind. Actually, today's tolerant values, accepting yesterday's outcasts, are more decent, fair, and humane.—James A. Haught
James A. HaughtCertainly the tribal nature of political and social behavior … is a key to understanding the durability of despotic regimes and the absence of tolerant pluralism.—David K. Shipler
—often used with ofDavid K. ShiplerThe eight-term California Republican built a reputation in House leadership … as a friendly backslapper increasingly tolerant of his party's most hardline members.—Michael Warren and Melanie Zanona
Michael Warren and Melanie Zanona
b
: permitting or accepting something (such as a behavior or belief) that one does not like
tolerant parents
—often used with ofWhen it comes to judging friends and lovers, though, people tend not to be so tolerant of contradiction. A lover who betrays us reveals his entire character in a new and damning light. "I thought I knew you!" we cry, in a howl of anger and bewilderment.—Edward Dolnick
Edward DolnickThe southerner is usually tolerant of those weaknesses that proceed from innocence …—Flannery O'Connor
Flannery O'ConnorI am impressed, when I teach in the United States, by the readiness of students and colleagues to perform boring tasks like reading ill-written but essential texts. … British academic life, by contrast, is markedly less tolerant of tedium; French too.—George Watson
George WatsonHolmes was not prone to friendship, but he was tolerant of the big Scotchman, and smiled at the sight of him.—Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle… an intellectual context that was tolerant of barbarism and inhumanity, or even justified it.—Richard Wolin
Richard Wolin2
: exhibiting tolerance (see tolerance sense 4a) for something (such as a drug or an environmental factor)
The goal of allergy shots is to render a person tolerant to an allergen when it is encountered.—Jane E. Brody
Jane E. BrodyThese organisms aren't just cold tolerant, they're freeze resistant.—Robert C. Cowen
Robert C. CowenWhen bacteria become tolerant to these compounds, they sometimes also become less sensitive to certain antibiotic medicines.—Coco Ballantyne
Coco Ballantyne
tolerantly
adverb
Synonyms
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
Recent Examples on the Web
How tolerant officials will be is likely to loom large in their debate on further possible easing — even more so after recent reports hinted at lingering consumer-price pressures.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 June 2024
Ornamental plants Drought tolerant shrubs need little care this time of year.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2024
Palm trees are often thought of as restricted to tropical or sub-tropical climates and yet several are tolerant of frost.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 25 May 2024
If liberals are merely nice and tolerant and can’t talk about the deepest and most sacred cares of the heart and soul, which seem so threatened to so many, then this is going to be an ugly election year.
—David Brooks, The Mercury News, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tolerant 
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 June 2024
Ornamental plants Drought tolerant shrubs need little care this time of year.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2024
Palm trees are often thought of as restricted to tropical or sub-tropical climates and yet several are tolerant of frost.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 25 May 2024
If liberals are merely nice and tolerant and can’t talk about the deepest and most sacred cares of the heart and soul, which seem so threatened to so many, then this is going to be an ugly election year.
—David Brooks, The Mercury News, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tolerant
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tolerant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tolerant
Cite this Entry
“Tolerant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tolerant. Accessed 9 Jun. 2024.
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