bearable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "bearable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something is tolerable, or not unbearable. For example, "The heat was bearable, so we decided to go for a walk."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Seinfeld was inventive, Friends was a global phenomenon, Will and Grace went out of its way to bust taboos, and even Everybody Loves Raymond was bearable once you understood that every single character would be happier if any of the other characters died.

The Guardian

We always had a float in the parades and we always went to the football and basketball games together and that made college more bearable.

The Guardian - Music

But everyone, not just the record breaker, creates these little bubbles of meaning, drawing a line around a tiny portion of the world to make the arbitrariness of life bearable.

The Guardian - Opinion

In fact, the only way the channel's offering became bearable at all is if you imagined that the whole thing was the result of a low-budget 1980s body-swap comedy where Paxman and David Mitchell urinated in a fountain at the same time and turned into each other with largely unsatisfactory results.

The Guardian

You photograph the baby, taking hand and foot prints, writing tiny name bands that his parents will treasure forever - a hundred tiny acts to make some part of their day bearable.

The Guardian

Ten is an average, bearable day.

The Guardian - Sport

But the other issue, as both writers note, is that reclining rights are already allocated unevenly: having less legroom is a lot more bearable if you are short.

The Economist

It would mean eroding the privileges that make prisoners' lives bearable and prepare them for life on the outside.

The Economist

The employer gets stung for contributions of 1.25% to the work-accident fund; 0.4% to the work medicine fund; 2.6% to the transport fund; and so on.Were the state taxing the French in order to service debts incurred for long-term investment, it might all be more bearable.

The Economist

So the immediate cost of servicing a standard repayment loan has become much more bearable.

The Economist

But somehow the oppressions of the distant past seemed bearable.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "bearable" with adverbs like 'barely', 'easily', or 'more' to provide nuanced descriptions of the level of tolerability.

Common error

Avoid using "bearable" to describe inherently positive situations. "Bearable" implies a degree of discomfort or difficulty, so using it in a purely positive context can sound unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "bearable" functions to describe something as tolerable or endurable. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in contexts where situations are difficult but not impossible to withstand.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bearable" is an adjective used to describe something as tolerable or endurable. It's grammatically correct and frequently used, especially in News & Media. According to Ludwig, the word conveys a sense of managing difficulty. While it's suitable for neutral contexts, avoid using it in inherently positive situations. Consider alternatives like "tolerable" or "manageable" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tolerable

Indicates something can be endured, similar to "bearable" but sometimes implies a slightly lower level of comfort.

endurable

Stresses the capacity to withstand hardship, akin to "bearable" but with a stronger emphasis on resilience.

sufferable

Emphasizes the ability to withstand something unpleasant, close to "bearable" but often with a negative connotation.

survivable

Highlights the possibility of surviving a difficult situation, closely related to "bearable" in challenging contexts.

manageable

Focuses on the capacity to control or handle something, suggesting a practical aspect of "bearable".

withstandable

Emphasizes the ability to resist something, similar to "bearable" but with a stronger implication of active resistance.

livable

Highlights the possibility of living or existing under certain conditions, implying a satisfactory, "bearable" state.

supportable

Focuses on the possibility of providing support or assistance, adding a layer of care to the idea of "bearable".

sustainable

Implies that something can be maintained over time, sharing a sense of long-term "bearable" conditions.

navigable

Implies that the situation is possible to deal with.

FAQs

How can I use "bearable" in a sentence?

You can use "bearable" to describe a situation that is difficult but tolerable. For instance, "The pain was "bearable" after taking the medication".

What are some alternatives to "bearable"?

Alternatives include "tolerable", "endurable", or "manageable", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say something is 'barely bearable'?

Yes, saying something is "barely bearable" is correct. It emphasizes that the situation is only just tolerable and implies a high level of discomfort.

What's the difference between "bearable" and "acceptable"?

"Bearable" implies something is tolerable despite being unpleasant, while "acceptable" suggests something meets a minimum standard or requirement.