tolerant

tolerant — adjective

1. describes a person who is willing to let other people hold different opinions, f

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a person who is willing to let other people hold different opinions, follow different customs, or live in ways that are not what the person would choose for themselves.

Example

Justin's parents are tolerant of his choice to become an artist instead of a doctor.

tolerant of + [person]'s choice / decision

The school principal encourages a tolerant environment where all students feel respected.

Common collocations
  • tolerant of different opinions
  • tolerant of different beliefs
  • tolerant of different cultures
  • tolerant of different lifestyles
  • tolerant of diversity
  • tolerant attitude
  • tolerant environment
  • tolerant society
Synonyms
  • open-minded

    more active — suggests a willingness to seek out and consider new ideas, while tolerant can be more passive

  • accepting

    warmer and more welcoming; implies embracing differences rather than merely putting up with them

  • broad-minded

    slightly dated, overlaps with open-minded but carries a stronger sense of liberal values

  • permissive

    negative connotation — suggests allowing too much freedom, especially regarding rules or moral behaviour

Antonyms
  • intolerant

    direct opposite; unwilling to accept different views or behaviour

  • narrow-minded

    implies a limited perspective and unwillingness to consider other viewpoints

  • prejudiced

    stronger negative connotation of judging others unfairly based on fixed ideas

Grammar Patterns

tolerant of + noun phrase

Usage Note

The most common pattern is 'tolerant of + noun phrase', where the noun names the thing being accepted. The subject can be a person, a group, or an entire community.

Common Mistakes

My teacher is tolerant with late homework.
My teacher is tolerant of late homework.
The correct preposition after 'tolerant' is 'of', not 'with'.
She is a very tolerate person.
She is a very tolerant person.
Use the adjective form 'tolerant', not the verb stem 'tolerate'.

2. describes a living thing, a person, or an object that can withstand unpleasant c

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a living thing, a person, or an object that can withstand unpleasant conditions, physical stress, or harsh treatment without being damaged or losing the ability to function normally.

Example

Some desert plants are highly tolerant of drought and need very little water to survive.

tolerant of drought (plants, environments)

Asher is surprisingly tolerant of cold weather and wears shorts even in winter.

Common collocations
  • tolerant of drought
  • tolerant of heat
  • tolerant of cold
  • tolerant of pain
  • tolerant of stress
  • tolerant of harsh conditions
  • highly tolerant
  • become more tolerant of
Synonyms
  • resilient

    focuses on the ability to recover quickly from difficulty rather than just enduring it

  • hardy

    used mainly for plants and animals that survive harsh outdoor conditions

  • resistant

    suggests actively blocking or fighting against the stressor rather than passively enduring it

Antonyms
  • sensitive

    easily affected or damaged by conditions that a tolerant person or thing could handle

  • fragile

    easily broken or damaged; the opposite of being able to withstand stress

  • delicate

    requires careful handling; cannot tolerate rough treatment or difficult conditions

Grammar Patterns

tolerant of + noun phrase (stressor or condition)

Usage Note

This sense often appears with biological, medical, or mechanical subjects. The object of 'of' names the stressor: drought, heat, cold, pain, chemicals, or physical wear.

Common Mistakes

She is tolerant to spicy food.
She is tolerant of spicy food.
'Tolerant' takes 'of', not 'to'.
This plant tolerates drought, so it is very tolerate.
This plant tolerates drought, so it is very tolerant.
Use the adjective 'tolerant', not the verb form.

Word family

  • tolerance
    nounB2
  • tolerate
    verbB2
  • tolerantly
    adverbC1
  • toleration
    nounC1
  • intolerant
    adjectiveB2
  • intolerance
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Open-minded suggests a genuine willingness to consider new ideas or viewpoints, while tolerant often implies simply not interfering even if you disagree — a more passive stance. Accepting is warmer: it means embracing differences rather than merely putting up with them. Broad-minded is slightly dated in modern English but overlaps with open-minded, carrying a hint of liberal or progressive values. Permissive has a noticeably negative overtone: it suggests allowing too much freedom, especially with children or moral boundaries. For example, a tolerant parent lets a child pursue an unusual career; an open-minded parent actively learns about that career; a permissive parent may fail to set any limits at all.

open-mindedacceptingbroad-mindedpermissive

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • tolerant of differences
  • tolerant of change

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'tolerant' comes from the Latin verb 'tolerare' meaning 'to bear, endure, or suffer'. It passed into English through Old French 'tolérant' in the 15th century, at first carrying only the sense of physical endurance. The modern meaning of 'accepting of different views or practices' grew during the 16th–17th centuries, when debates about religious tolerance turned the word toward social and political use.