this cannot be tolerated

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'this cannot be tolerated' is correct and usable in written English.
This sentence can be used when something exists, or is occurring, that should not be accepted, and you are indicating to someone that action needs to be taken. For example, "The employee's poor attitude towards his colleagues is unacceptable; this cannot be tolerated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

No, this cannot be tolerated.

The Guardian - Books

This cannot be tolerated," said Liu.

The Guardian

This cannot be tolerated and must stop".

The Guardian

"This cannot be tolerated," said William Lerach, an attorney in a class-action suit against Enron and Andersen, pointing to a box of shredded Enron documents that he brought to the court hearing.

The New York Times

Peter Martin, managing director at security firm RelianceACSN said: "It's clear the company has majorly flawed security postures, and given the sensitivity of the data the company holds this cannot be tolerated".

The Guardian - Tech

As a result, we explained in Knox that an agency-fee provision imposes "a 'significant impingement on First Amendment rights,' " and this cannot be tolerated unless it passes "exacting First Amendment scrutiny". 567 U. S., at ___ (slip op. at 9 10).

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

All you have to do is look at the social media, with all the shrill ridicule, the belligerent invective, the hectoring denunciation, the flared nostrils, the strong statements to one's friends about how this or that cannot be tolerated, in the name of tolerance.

Stanford University

"This form of activity, this behavior, cannot be tolerated.

The New York Times

Misconduct of this nature cannot be tolerated by the PSNI," he said.

The Guardian

"This situation cannot be tolerated any more," General Musharraf said in his January speech to the nation.

The New York Times

"This behaviour cannot be tolerated; the deal must be strictly enforced, and the IAEA must fully utilise its inspection authorities," the statement said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this cannot be tolerated" to express strong disapproval and a demand for change in situations where a clear boundary has been crossed.

Common error

Avoid using "this cannot be tolerated" in casual conversations. It's a strong phrase best reserved for formal or serious situations to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "this cannot be tolerated" is to serve as a declarative statement expressing strong disapproval and indicating that a particular situation or behavior is unacceptable. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this cannot be tolerated" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey strong disapproval and demand for action. According to Ludwig AI, it is most commonly found in news and academic contexts, indicating its suitability for formal and neutral registers. While effective, its impact is greatest when reserved for situations where a clear boundary has been crossed. Alternatives such as "this is unacceptable" and "this will not stand" can be used to modulate the intensity of the message, depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

This is unacceptable

More direct and straightforward in expressing disapproval.

This is inadmissible

Implies a formal rejection, often in legal or logical contexts.

This will not stand

Suggests resistance and a refusal to allow something to continue.

This is out of the question

Indicates something is entirely impossible or unacceptable.

This is beyond the pale

Suggests something is morally or socially unacceptable.

This is impermissible

Indicates that something isn't allowed, often by a rule or law.

This is not permissible

A more polite variation of "this is impermissible", still conveys something is not allowed.

This is not to be countenanced

Formal and implies a refusal to give approval or support.

Such behavior is inexcusable

Shifts focus to the behavior itself and emphasizes a lack of justification.

This is simply not on

Informal, British English expression indicating disapproval.

FAQs

How to use "this cannot be tolerated" in a sentence?

Use "this cannot be tolerated" to express strong disapproval or rejection of a particular action, behavior, or situation. For example: "Such blatant disregard for the rules "this cannot be tolerated"."

What can I say instead of "this cannot be tolerated"?

You can use alternatives like "this is unacceptable", "this is inadmissible", or "this will not stand" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "this cannot be tolerated" or "this can't be tolerated"?

Both "this cannot be tolerated" and "this can't be tolerated" are grammatically correct. The contracted form "can't" is more informal, while "cannot" is more formal.

What's the difference between "this cannot be tolerated" and "this cannot be allowed"?

"This cannot be tolerated" implies a stronger sense of disapproval and a call for action to stop something from continuing. "This cannot be allowed" simply means something is not permitted.