adjective
Uncommon
intolerant
ihn-TO-luh-ruhnt
Intolerant (adjective) means unwilling to accept views, behaviour, or people different from one's own. Example: “He grew increasingly intolerant of other people's opinions.”
adjective
1
Unwilling to accept views, behaviour, or people different from one's own.
"He grew increasingly intolerant of other people's opinions."
2
Medicine: unable to properly digest or process a certain food or substance.
"I am intolerant of lactose, so I can't drink milk"
"I am lactose-intolerant, so I can't drink milk."
"She's intolerant to gluten and has to check every label."
"When our bodies no longer create the enzyme needed to break down lactose, we can become intolerant to it."
— Sarah Taylor, Vegetarian to Vegan: Give Up Dairy (2013)
How to use intolerant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot accepting of difference, or, medically, unable to handle a certain food or substance.
Common pairings
intolerant of
lactose intolerant
religiously intolerant
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Word forms
- Plural
- intolerants
- Comparative
- more intolerant
- Superlative
- most intolerant
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He grew increasingly _____ of other people's opinions.
Etymology
From French intolérant or Latin intolerans, from in- ("not") plus tolerans ("tolerant").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for intolerant
See all rhymes for intolerant →Frequently asked questions
What does “intolerant” mean?
The word “intolerant” means unwilling to accept views, behaviour, or people different from one's own. In plain terms, not accepting of difference, or, medically, unable to handle a certain food or substance.
How do you pronounce “intolerant”?
“Intolerant” is pronounced ihn-TO-luh-ruhnt (/ɪnˈtɑləɹənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “intolerant” in a sentence?
Here is “intolerant” used in a sentence: “He grew increasingly intolerant of other people's opinions.”
What part of speech is “intolerant”?
“Intolerant” is an adjective.
Where does the word “intolerant” come from?
The word “intolerant” comes from Latin. From French intolérant or Latin intolerans, from in- ("not") plus tolerans ("tolerant").
Is “intolerant” a common word?
“Intolerant” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “intolerant” have?
“Intolerant” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: unwilling to accept views, behaviour, or people different from one's own.
