adjective
tolerable
TAH-lur-uh-bul/ˈtɑːlərəbl/
Acceptable despite some shortcomings or discomfort.
The coffee is merely tolerable, but the unimpressed woman continues drinking it.
Etymology
Something tolerable can be borne or endured. That idea softened into faint praise: something acceptable enough to put up with, rather than something notably good.
In context
not the best looking setup but it was okay it was tolerable
More examples
- A fan keeps the afternoon heat tolerable.
- The room is cramped but tolerable for one night.
- Working from home makes the lower salary more tolerable.
Forms
tolerable · more tolerable · most tolerable
tolerably adverb — To an acceptable but unremarkable degree.
tolerate verb — To accept or endure something unpleasant.
Similar words
- acceptable
- Emphasizes meeting a minimum standard rather than enduring discomfort.
- bearable
- Emphasizes enduring discomfort rather than judging overall quality or adequacy.
- adequate
- Emphasizes being sufficient for a purpose, not necessarily pleasant.