less bearable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less bearable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or experience that is becoming more difficult to endure or tolerate. Example: "The constant noise from the construction site made the already stressful environment even less bearable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

It makes life one notch less bearable".

The New Yorker

Victory made martial law seem less urgent, and its burdens less bearable.

The New Yorker

On the less bearable end are farms that exist mostly to entertain tourists.

The New York Times - Arts

To us, their silence – the greater quiet of the whole house – tells a different and less bearable story.

The Guardian - Opinion

"His days divided themselves into quadrants of pain: bearable, less bearable, unbearable, semi-conscious," Ms. Garis writes.

The New York Times - Books

It's a semantic pox, either getting worse by the moment or simply less bearable upon the thousandth exposure to it.

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

This makes the difficult material even less emotionally bearable.

The New York Times - Arts

If we create an environment for economic growth the assets of the nation will surge, thereby making the debt less burdensome, more bearable and more sustainable.

Forbes

Our weather may be less predictable, but is bearable for most of the year.

The Guardian

"The more money that is expended in keeping people in Siberia and in making life there more bearable, the less is available for investment elsewhere," they write.

The New York Times

I feel like I am in love with someone that's worthy of my love, and because of that everything else is much more bearable and less harsh.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "less bearable" to describe situations or conditions that are becoming increasingly difficult to tolerate, but not yet completely unbearable. It's useful for highlighting a worsening state.

Common error

Avoid using "less bearable" in situations that are already extremely dramatic or dire. It can sound understated when a stronger term would be more appropriate. For example, instead of saying "The famine made life less bearable", consider "The famine made life unbearable."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less bearable" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating a state of reduced tolerability or endurance. Ludwig AI confirms its usage is common in various contexts, describing situations becoming increasingly difficult to handle.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less bearable" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase that describes a situation becoming increasingly difficult to tolerate. As Ludwig AI confirms, its prevalence in news and media reflects its effectiveness in conveying negative changes or escalating challenges. When employing this phrase, consider its suitability for the context, avoiding understatement in already dire situations. Alternatives like "more difficult to tolerate" or "harder to endure" may offer subtle variations in meaning, while avoiding overuse in overly dramatic contexts ensures impactful writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more difficult to tolerate

Changes the phrasing to emphasize the difficulty in tolerating something.

harder to endure

Focuses on the increased challenge of enduring a situation.

increasingly intolerable

Highlights the escalating nature of intolerability.

becoming more challenging

Shifts the focus to the growing challenges a situation presents.

getting tougher to handle

Emphasizes the increasing difficulty in managing or coping with something.

progressively harder to accept

Highlights the gradual decrease in one's ability to accept a situation.

decreasingly sustainable

Focuses on the decreasing ability to maintain or support something.

more and more trying

Indicates that a situation is becoming increasingly testing and stressful.

less and less appealing

Highlights the diminishing attractiveness or desirability of something.

growing more oppressive

Emphasizes the increasing weight and burden of a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "less bearable" in a sentence?

You can use "less bearable" to describe a situation that is becoming harder to tolerate. For example, "The constant noise made the situation "less bearable"".

What's a good alternative to "less bearable"?

Alternatives include "more difficult to tolerate", "harder to endure", or "increasingly intolerable", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "least bearable" instead of "less bearable"?

While both are grammatically correct, "least bearable" implies the absolute worst state, whereas "less bearable" suggests a comparative state. For example, consider "least bearable" when speaking of the single most intolerable thing.

What is the difference between "less bearable" and "unbearable"?

"Less bearable" implies a worsening situation that is becoming harder to tolerate, while "unbearable" signifies a state that is impossible to endure. "Less bearable" suggests a gradient, while "unbearable" suggests a breaking point.