barely tolerant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely tolerant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or attitude where someone has a minimal level of acceptance or patience towards something or someone. Example: "The community was barely tolerant of the new policies, leading to widespread protests and dissatisfaction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The country is only barely tolerant of non-governmental organisations, and fears that environmental pressure groups could provide cover for political activism against the Communist Party itself.

The Economist

A certain style dignified its grime; heavy, clumsy, arrogant, purse-proud, but not cheap; insular but large; barely tolerant of an outside world, and absolutely self-confident.

The New York Times

"The Communists will not have a leading role in the future," predicted Mr. Gimpu, a lawyer and non-party member who seemed barely tolerant of the current odd-bedfellow liaison between the anxious party and the fervid nationalists.

The New York Times

The feeling of subversiveness, the sense that hip-hop rules are being broken, gives HCL some of its energy, but it's also a sign that things are not yet equal – and in many places, barely tolerant.

The Guardian - Music

"It's this kind of barely tolerant attitude that makes Muslims feel further excluded and alienated.

BBC

The bemused, barely tolerant smile with which Borowitz (wearing costumer Marco Piemontese's beautiful floor-length dresses) says everything needed to be said about the unhappy woman.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Akbar wasn't just tolerant.

The New York Times

From these types of crops, barely is the most salinity-tolerant crop, sorghum and wheat moderately tolerant crops, maize and potato moderately sensitive, and also bean, lentil and pea are most sensitive crops that was easily affect their agricultural yields because of salinity hazards and specific ion toxicity.

Applied Water Science

To the world press, it was an amusing example of the barely civilized native with amazing natural abilities meeting his master, the tolerant, sophisticated royal.

The New York Times - Sports

For someone like me, born three years after, it barely needs to be stated that today's Britain is a more tolerant nation than 40 years ago.

The Guardian

Less tolerant.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely tolerant" to accurately depict situations where acceptance or endurance is at a minimum, such as describing societal attitudes or personal interactions.

Common error

Avoid using "barely tolerant" when the situation reflects a higher level of acceptance. Ensure the context genuinely reflects a minimal or near-absent level of tolerance to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely tolerant" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a limited or minimal level of acceptance. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes situations where tolerance is present but only just so.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely tolerant" is used to describe situations where acceptance is minimal. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides real-world examples. It functions as an adjective phrase, modifying nouns to express a limited degree of tolerance, with its usage found primarily in news and media sources. Alternatives such as "hardly tolerant" and "scarcely tolerant" offer similar meanings, though it's essential to consider the specific nuance needed in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly tolerant

Uses a different synonym to emphasize the limited tolerance.

scarcely tolerant

Replaces "barely" with "scarcely" to convey a similar sense of minimal tolerance.

minimally tolerant

Emphasizes the minimal level of tolerance.

slightly tolerant

Indicates a marginal level of tolerance.

just about tolerant

Suggests tolerance exists but is at its lowest threshold.

almost intolerant

Highlights the closeness to intolerance.

borderline tolerant

Implies being on the edge of intolerance.

grudgingly tolerant

Suggests tolerance is given unwillingly.

reluctantly tolerant

Highlights the hesitation in being tolerant.

nominally tolerant

Indicates tolerance exists in name only.

FAQs

How can I use "barely tolerant" in a sentence?

You can use "barely tolerant" to describe situations where acceptance is minimal. For example: "The community was "barely tolerant" of the new policies".

What's a less formal way to say "barely tolerant"?

Informally, you might say "hardly accepting" or "just putting up with it", although these phrases change the tone and specificity.

Is there a difference between ""barely tolerant"" and "intolerant"?

"Barely tolerant" implies a minimal level of acceptance, while "intolerant" suggests a complete lack of acceptance. The former suggests a strained endurance, the latter outright rejection.

What are some synonyms for ""barely tolerant""?

Synonyms include "hardly tolerant", "scarcely tolerant", and "minimally tolerant", which all suggest a very limited degree of acceptance.