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- pronunciation:
- ta
l
reIt
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
tolerates, tolerating, tolerated |
| definition 1: |
If someone tolerates something, they allow it to happen even though they don't like it or they think it is wrong or against the rules. If a government tolerates something, they allow it even if many people think it is not right or, sometimes, even if there is a law against it.
The boss doesn't like it when employees arrive late, but if they are only a little late, he tolerates it.The new teacher told the students that she would not tolerate bad behavior.- synonyms:
- allow, stand, suffer
- antonyms:
- resist
- similar words:
- accept, permit, swallow, take
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| definition 2: |
When you tolerate something, you continue to live with it even though you don't like it or it is bad or hard for you. If you can't tolerate something, you can't live with it or you feel as if you need to escape from it.
When I complained to my grandmother about stuff my little brother does, she said that sometimes you just have to tolerate things you don't like.These plants can tolerate cold temperatures quite well.My mom can't tolerate tolerate cigarette smoke. It gives her bad headaches.- synonyms:
- bear, endure, take, withstand
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| related words: |
allow, withstand |
| derivations: |
tolerative (adj.), tolerator (n.) |
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