cannot be borne

USAGE SUMMARY

"cannot be borne" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize something unacceptable or intolerable. For example: The level of pollution in the city is unacceptable; it simply cannot be borne any longer.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

This cannot be borne.

The Guardian - Opinion

But there is something about losing to Britain, and England, in any sport, that just cannot be borne.

The Guardian - Sport

These figures may not be immediately attractive to donors, and cannot be borne by the public sector alone.

The Guardian

They said that the cost of renewable energy subsidies "cannot be borne by our companies," and called for the mobilisation of "indigenous sources of shale gas" instead.

The Guardian

Toward the end of the novel, Edna suffers a couple of disappointments that lead her to realise that even the terms of her new life cannot be borne.

The Guardian - Books

Investors fear the rising debt burden cannot be borne: GDP growth has been weaker than anywhere else in the euro zone (bar Italy) since 2000.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Note: auto-loader rifles and pumps cannot be bore sighted this way.

WikiHow

"It cannot be that Germany, Austria, Sweden and Italy bear the burden alone.

The Washington Post

He understands that voters cannot be asked to bear too much painful reality, at least before polling day.

The Economist

Second, America and a few countries cannot be expected to bear the burden of the fiscal and interest rate stimulus alone.

The Guardian

Second, the powerful economic forces that unleash human ingenuity cannot be brought to bear on greenhouse gas emissions unless they are somehow brought within the marketplace — with carbon prices, cap-and-trade or other regulatory schemes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cannot be borne", ensure that the subject is something abstract, such as a burden, cost, or injustice, rather than a physical object.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be borne" in casual conversation or informal writing. It sounds overly formal and out of place in less serious settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be borne" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing impossibility or unacceptability. It modifies a noun or concept, indicating that it cannot be endured or tolerated. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cannot be borne" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for expressing that something is unbearable or unacceptable. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While relatively rare, it's most commonly found in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts. When writing, it is best to reserve the phrase for formal contexts, and avoid its use in casual conversations. Alternatives such as "cannot be tolerated" or "is unacceptable" might be more appropriate in less formal situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be tolerated

Replaces 'borne' with 'tolerated', emphasizing acceptance rather than endurance.

cannot be endured

Substitutes 'borne' with 'endured', focusing on the act of withstanding something.

is beyond bearing

Reverses the structure while retaining the core meaning of something being unbearable.

is unacceptable

Simplifies the phrase to a direct statement of unacceptability.

is intolerable

Uses 'intolerable' to highlight the severity of the situation.

is more than one can bear

Offers a more personalized take on the inability to endure something.

is unsustainable

Emphasizes the inability to maintain the current state or situation.

is not sustainable

Highlights the lack of long-term viability of a situation or action.

cannot be justified

Focuses on the lack of valid reasons or excuses for something.

is simply too much

Uses a more emphatic and emotional expression of being overwhelmed.

FAQs

How to use "cannot be borne" in a sentence?

Use "cannot be borne" to indicate that something is unbearable or unacceptable. For example, "The financial strain on the family "cannot be borne" any longer".

What can I say instead of "cannot be borne"?

You can use alternatives like "cannot be tolerated", "is unacceptable", or "is intolerable" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "cannot be borne" or "cannot be born"?

"Cannot be borne" refers to something that cannot be endured or tolerated. "Cannot be born" refers to the impossibility of being brought into existence.

What's the difference between "cannot be borne" and "cannot be sustained"?

"Cannot be borne" implies that something is too difficult or painful to endure. "Cannot be sustained" suggests that something is not able to continue or be maintained.