Intolerable

Intolerable is an adjective describing something that cannot be endured or tolerated; it conveys an extreme degree of discomfort, pain, or offense. It can apply to physical conditions such as heat, noise, or hunger, as well as to moral judgments or social situations, where a threshold of acceptability has been exceeded. The term is often subjective, reflecting an individual or collective sense of what is beyond endurance.

Etymology: Intolerable derives from Late Middle English via Old French, from Latin intolerabilis meaning not able to be endured. This in turn comes from in- (not) + tolerabilis (able to be endured), with tolerare meaning to endure.

Usage: Intolerable is typically used for emphasis and may appear with variations such as more intolerable or most intolerable, though some writers prefer staying with a strong absolute sense. Common collocations include an intolerable burden, intolerable noise, or intolerable conditions. It can be used in everyday speech as well as in formal writing to highlight extreme circumstances, injustices, or behaviors.

Historical and political usage: The term is well known in a historical context from the phrase Intolerable Acts, used in the American colonies to refer to a set of measures enacted by the British Parliament in 1774 to punish Massachusetts and strengthen imperial control. The label has since extended to describe any actions or policies regarded as beyond acceptable restraint.

See also: intolerance, intolerant, tolerable, bearable, insufferable, intolerability.