What does intolerant mean?
Intolerant describes an attitude, person, or policy that refuses to accommodate difference or refuses to endure something. In its most common social sense, it means unwilling to respect beliefs, customs, or identities different from one's own, often implying prejudice rather than simple disagreement. “Intolerant of” is the usual construction: a person may be intolerant of criticism, dissent, or another group. The word can also describe an inability to bear a particular condition, as in being intolerant of extreme heat. Intolerant is more strongly evaluative than tolerant and is usually used when behavior or institutions deny equal treatment or respect. Because it carries a serious negative connotation, careful writers often explain the specific conduct rather than applying it broadly. Despite its force, the word is precise: it names not merely distaste, but a failure or refusal to tolerate.
adjectiveUnwilling to tolerate or respect different beliefs, behaviors, or identities. It can also mean unable to endure or withstand a particular condition.
- Unwilling to tolerate or respect people whose beliefs, behavior, or identity differs from one's own.
- Not able to endure or withstand a particular condition, especially an adverse physical or sensory one.
"The policy was condemned as intolerant of people whose religious beliefs differed from the majority."
"His refusal to consider any compromise made him seem intolerant of reasonable disagreement."
"Some plants are intolerant of prolonged frost, so gardeners protect them accordingly."
Intolerant wears “tolerant” inside it, yet means the opposite: a refusal to tolerate difference.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does intolerant come from?
The word belongs to the Latin family of tolerare, “to bear, endure, or tolerate.” Latin forms combining a negative prefix with the tolerant family conveyed the sense “not tolerating,” and English developed intolerant for someone unwilling to endure disagreement or to respect differences. Closely related English words such as tolerate, tolerable, tolerant, and tolerance preserve the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How intolerant is actually used
Common in formal and informal British and American English. It is strongly evaluative and often suggests prejudice, dogmatism, or denial of equal respect rather than mere personal dislike.
Easily confused with intolerant
Intolerable means impossible or unacceptable to tolerate, whereas intolerant describes someone or something unwilling or unable to tolerate something.