unbearably

unbearably — adverb

1. So extremely painful, unpleasant, or intense that a person is not able to endure

1.adverbB2
Definition

So extremely painful, unpleasant, or intense that a person is not able to endure it or carry on as normal.

Example

The heat in the workshop was unbearably humid that July afternoon.

adverb of degree modifying adjective: unbearably humid

After the funeral, Christopher found the silence in the old house unbearably heavy.

Common collocations
  • unbearably hot
  • unbearably cold
  • unbearably long
  • unbearably painful
  • unbearably slow
  • unbearably tight
  • unbearably crowded
  • unbearably loud
Synonyms
  • excruciatingly

    Stronger; suggests sharp physical or emotional pain; less common in everyday speech.

  • insufferably

    Focuses on people or behaviour that is annoying beyond tolerance, rather than physical conditions.

  • impossibly

    Suggests something is so extreme that it seems beyond what is possible; slightly more informal.

Antonyms
  • bearably

    Direct opposite; describes a level that is acceptable even if not comfortable.

  • tolerably

    Similar to 'bearably'; suggests the degree is acceptable.

Grammar Patterns

unbearably + adjective (hot / cold / long / painful / slow / tight)

unbearably + past participle (crowded / uncomfortable / depressing)

Usage Note

Cannot be used with positive or neutral adjectives (*unbearably good, *unbearably fast). Always pairs with adjectives or participles that describe a negative extreme — physical discomfort, emotional distress, or frustrating slowness.

Common Mistakes

The movie was unbearably good.
The movie was surprisingly good.
'unbearably' only applies to negative qualities, not positive ones.
She waited unbearably for the bus.
She waited an unbearably long time for the bus.
'unbearably' must modify an adjective or participle, not a verb directly.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All three intensify negative qualities, but they differ in what they typically modify. 'Excruciatingly' is the strongest, reserved for sharp physical or emotional pain (an excruciatingly loud noise, excruciatingly awkward silence). 'Insufferably' targets behaviour or personality traits — an insufferably arrogant colleague, insufferably long speeches. 'Impossibly' is broader and slightly more informal, often used for situations that seem to defy normal limits (impossibly high prices, impossibly steep stairs). 'Unbearably' is the most versatile of the four, covering physical discomfort, emotional distress, and frustrating circumstances alike. Example: 'The train was unbearably crowded, the heat was excruciatingly intense, and the conductor was insufferably rude.'

excruciatinglyinsufferably ↗impossibly

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed from the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') + 'bearable' (able to be endured, from Old English 'beran' meaning 'to carry or endure') + the adverb suffix '-ly'. The word 'bearable' dates from the early 17th century, and 'unbearably' followed soon after, first appearing in the 1700s to describe conditions or sensations too extreme to tolerate.