tolerant

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "tolerant" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something that is willing to accept beliefs or behaviour that are different from their own. Example sentence: She was a very tolerant person and accepted everyone regardless of their beliefs.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Whichever view you take, multicultural and tolerant or disapproving and fearful, the awkward fact is that we have not been breeding fast enough (or young enough) to keep society functioning without outside help, let alone educating ourselves to the levels a post-industrial economy is going to need.

The Guardian

"Everyone thought of themselves as being tolerant and open-minded," he says.

The Guardian

The Islam of north Africa, where most of France's Muslims come from, belongs to the Maliki school – a tolerant and easygoing tradition that does not force women to wear veils and encourages such non-fundamentalist activities as music, Sufi mysticism, superstition and magic.

The Guardian - Opinion

We were kept abreast on progress and our surroundings with short, informative lectures from the expedition leaders, who were always tolerant of an inadvertently lolling head.

The Guardian - Travel

Rafiq said: "A lot of funding is going to groups that hold vile views that are not acceptable in a tolerant, liberal society like the UK.

The Guardian

There are additional problems for the new all-embracing, multi-cultural, tolerant Tory party under Cameron if they get back into union with the Ulster Unionists.

The Guardian

Arguments against GM crops mostly focus on the dangers for human and animal health, risks to the environment, and whether they actually deliver on the promises to greatly increase food production, for example by making crops tolerant to pests, diseases or lack of water.

The Guardian

The report admits there is "no question" that widespread growing of herbicide tolerant crops has led to wider spraying of herbicide chemicals, resulting in the development of resistant super-weeds, and the "likely" reduction in wider biodiversity.

The Guardian

That was a big lesson — you have to learn to be tolerant of failure, because if you are intolerant of failure, your company will retrench and not be innovative.

The New York Times

They are also guilty of poor long-term politics: this pandering to cheap populism is significantly less liked by younger, more tolerant, sections of the electorate.

The Guardian - Opinion

Bernard, my first husband, was an atheist and tolerant of my Catholic faith, which is important to me.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the adjective "tolerant", consider the specific aspect you are emphasizing: acceptance, endurance, or understanding. Choose synonyms accordingly to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "tolerant" as a generic positive attribute. Instead, specify what the subject is tolerant of to provide meaningful context and avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "tolerant" primarily functions to describe a quality of acceptance, endurance, or permissiveness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to characterize individuals, societies, or systems that readily accommodate diverse perspectives or conditions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

23%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "tolerant" is a versatile adjective used to describe acceptance, endurance, or permissiveness. As Ludwig AI states, it is grammatically correct and widely used. It appears most frequently in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts. To use "tolerant" effectively, consider the specific aspect you wish to emphasize and avoid generic application by specifying what the subject is tolerant of. Related terms include "accepting", "open-minded", and "understanding", each offering subtle differences in meaning. The phrase’s high source quality and expert rating, alongside its frequent usage, solidify its importance in both written and spoken English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Broad-minded

Similar to open-minded, but emphasizes a comprehensive understanding.

Large-minded

Signifies generosity of spirit and a lack of pettiness.

Open-minded

Emphasizes a willingness to consider different ideas and perspectives.

Liberal

Suggests a broad-minded and permissive attitude towards unconventional behavior or opinions.

Accepting

Focuses more on the act of willingly taking something as it is.

Permissive

Indicates allowing or tolerating something, especially if it is discouraged or disliked by others.

Understanding

Stresses the ability to comprehend and empathize with others' feelings or situations.

Patient

Highlights the ability to endure delays or suffering without complaint.

Forgiving

Implies pardoning someone for an offense or mistake.

Enduring

Focuses on the ability to withstand hardship or difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "tolerant" in a sentence?

You can use "tolerant" to describe someone who accepts others' differences, such as: "She is very "tolerant" of different viewpoints."

What are some synonyms for "tolerant"?

Alternatives to "tolerant" include "accepting", "open-minded", and "understanding", each with slightly different nuances.

What's the difference between "tolerant" and "lenient"?

"Tolerant" implies acceptance of differences, while "lenient" suggests being permissive or forgiving, often in the context of rules or discipline.

Is it correct to say "tolerant of" or "tolerant to"?

While both are used, "tolerant of" is generally preferred and considered more grammatically correct. For example, "tolerant of criticism" is more common than "tolerant to criticism".