intolerance

UK: /ɪnˈtɒlərəns/ US: (in tol′ər əns)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•tol•er•ance  (in tol′ər əns), n. 

1. lack of toleration;
   unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect contrary opinions or beliefs, persons of different races or backgrounds, etc.
2. incapacity or indisposition to bear or endure:
   intolerance to heat.
3. abnormal sensitivity or allergy to a food, drug, etc.
4. an intolerant act.

• Latin intolerantia. See intolerant, -ance
• 1755–65

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•tol•er•ant /ɪnˈtɑlərənt/   adj. 

1. not tolerating or respecting beliefs, opinions, usages, manners, etc., that are different from one's own:
   Some of those churchgoers are intolerant of other religions.
2. unable or unwilling to endure:
   [usually: be + ~ + of] That young child is intolerant of heat.

in•tol•er•ance, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•tol•er•ant  (in tol′ər ənt), adj. 

1. not tolerating or respecting beliefs, opinions, usages, manners, etc., different from one's own, as in political or religious matters;
   bigoted.
2. unable or unwilling to tolerate or endure (usually fol. by of ):
   intolerant of very hot weather.

n. 

3. an intolerant person;
   bigot.

• Latin intolerant- (stem of intolerāns) impatient. See in-³, tolerant
• 1725–35

in•tol′er•ant•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. illiberal, narrow, proscriptive, prejudiced, biased, dictatorial, totalitarian.
  Intolerant, fanatical, bigoted refer to strongly illiberal attitudes.
  Intolerant refers to an active refusal to allow others to have or put into practice beliefs different from one's own:
  intolerant in politics; intolerant of other customs.
  Bigoted is to be so emotionally or subjectively attached to one's own belief as to be hostile to all others:
  a bigoted person.
  Fanatical applies to unreasonable or extreme action in maintaining one's beliefs and practices without necessary reference to others:
  a fanatical religious sect.

Antonyms

• 1. liberal.