intolerant

Etymology

From French intolérant

Adjective

intolerant (comparative more intolerant, superlative most intolerant)

1. Unable or indisposed to tolerate, endure or bear.

   I am lactose-intolerant, so I can't drink milk.

   • 2013, Sarah Taylor, Vegetarian to Vegan: Give Up Dairy, Give Up Eggs for Good

     When our bodies no longer create the enzyme needed to break down lactose, we can become intolerant to it.

   • 1892, Harry Marshall Ward, The Oak: A Popular Introduction to Forest-botany

     The oak, as is well known, is a slow-growing, dicotyledonous tree of peculiar spreading habit, and very intolerant of shade.

   • 1751, John Arbuthnot, An Essay Concerning the Effects of Air on Human Bodies

     The powers of human bodies being limited and intolerant of excesses.

2. Not tolerant; close-minded about new or different ideas; indisposed to tolerate contrary opinions or beliefs; impatient of dissent or opposition; denying or refusing the right of private opinion or choice in others; inclined to persecute or suppress dissent.

Noun

intolerant (plural intolerants)

1. One who is intolerant; a bigot.
   • 1856, John David Chambers, Strictures, legal and historical, on the judgment of the Consistory Court of London, in December, 1855, in the Case of Westerton Versus Liddell

     […] a portion of the prejudice which darkened the spirits of these intolerants, might perhaps have cast its shadow over him.

References

• intolerant in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• intolerant in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Pronunciation

• Audio

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• Rhymes: -ant

Adjective

intolerant (comparative intoleranter, superlative am intolerantesten)

1. intolerant

Further reading

• intolerant in Duden online