tolerant

/ˈtɒlərənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtɑːlərənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtä-lə-rənt ˈtäl-rənt/ (ame, mw)

tolerant — adjective

  • tolerantpositive
  • more tolerantcomparative
  • most tolerantsuperlative

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

1.形容詞B2
釋義

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.

例句

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.

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • 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

文法句型

tolerant of + noun phrase

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.形容詞B2
釋義

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.

例句

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.

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • 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

文法句型

tolerant of + noun phrase (stressor or condition)

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.