unbearable

USAGE SUMMARY

'unbearable' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is very hard or unpleasant to endure or experience. Example sentence: The heat and humidity of the summer months were unbearable.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Guardian - Music

The Guardian - Opinion

The Guardian - Sport

The New York Times - Sports

The Guardian - Film

The Guardian - Books

The Guardian - Money

The Guardian

The Economist

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But being trapped first in his body and then being barred from work and often unable to communicate proved unbearable.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He became a leading interpreter of the mainstream repertoire – in particular the symphonies of Mahler and Shostakovich, and the concertos of Brahms – but also of his country's music, which he conducted with a poignancy, briskness, power and beauty that borders on the unbearable.

The Guardian - Music

It was unbearable to watch Miliband (who might not be 100% my cup of tea in lots of ways, and some of his ideas are bonkers, but he is a genuine supporter of women and I'm sure he would put his hand on his heart and say he is a feminist) be lectured by Brand on the uselessness of the female vote.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is difficult to say which is more unbearable: another instalment in the Kevin Pietersen saga, or watching England play cricket.

The Guardian - Sport

— In the sometimes bland Nascar garage, at least one driver has dared to criticize the powerful, call out the untouchable, slap down the unbearable and catch the seemingly uncatchable.

The New York Times - Sports

The instinct, in these circumstances, is to brace oneself for the onslaught of unbearable Aussie swagger.

The Guardian - Sport

I mean, when I’m about to start a job, I’m unbearable, you know?

The Guardian - Film

She contemplated risking arrest to fly to Bahrain to see her father, finding it unbearable to be far away from her family during such a difficult time.

The Guardian - Opinion

The unbearable difference, of course, is that while the minotaur can be slain, Lucinda's cancer can't: The first was dispatched by a trick with a ball of string the second cannot be reached by medical science.

The Guardian - Books

Last month a shock rise in the value of the Swiss franc made the mortgage burden even more unbearable – and has left investors in despair.

The Guardian - Money

On the night my dad died I asked my mum like a small child who has fallen over how it could hurt so much and when the pain would go away - because that's what the first moments of real loss are, pain that is so unbearable it is almost physical.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing emotional pain, consider using "unbearable" to emphasize the intensity and overwhelming nature of the feeling.

Common error

Avoid using "unbearable" in situations where the discomfort is mild or easily managed. Reserve it for truly extreme or overwhelming experiences to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unbearable" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that is extremely difficult or impossible to endure. As Ludwig AI highlights, it denotes something that is so unpleasant that it cannot be tolerated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unbearable" is an adjective used to describe something extremely difficult or impossible to endure. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and widely used. Its function is to emphasize the intensity of a negative experience, and it's commonly found in news media, though suitable for various contexts. While generally neutral, it should be reserved for truly overwhelming situations to maintain its impact. Consider alternatives like "intolerable" or "insufferable" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intolerable

Focuses on the inability to accept or permit something, often due to moral or ethical reasons.

insufferable

Emphasizes the difficulty in enduring someone or something due to its unpleasant nature.

unendurable

Highlights the inability to withstand something, often due to extreme pain or hardship.

excruciating

Specifically refers to something that causes intense physical or mental suffering.

agonizing

Similar to excruciating but can also imply a prolonged period of suffering.

oppressive

Suggests a heavy and burdensome feeling, often associated with external forces or conditions.

crushing

Implies an overwhelming sense of defeat or emotional pain.

harrowing

Focuses on the intensely distressing or traumatic nature of an experience.

unacceptable

Highlights that something doesn't meet standards or requirements.

insupportable

Indicates that something can no longer be tolerated or maintained.

FAQs

How to use "unbearable" in a sentence?

Use "unbearable" to describe something that is extremely difficult or impossible to endure. For example, "The pain was "unbearable" after the surgery".

What can I say instead of "unbearable"?

You can use alternatives like "intolerable", "insufferable", or "excruciating" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "unbearable" or "unbareable"?

"Unbearable" is the correct spelling. "Unbareable" is a misspelling.

What's the difference between "unbearable" and "difficult"?

"Unbearable" implies a level of distress that is nearly impossible to tolerate, while "difficult" simply suggests that something requires effort or is challenging.