bearable

adjective

bear·​able ˈber-ə-bəl How to pronounce bearable (audio)
Synonyms of bearablenext
: capable of being borne
bearability
ˌber-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce bearable (audio)
noun
bearably
ˈber-ə-blē How to pronounce bearable (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of bearable

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Examples of bearable in a Sentence

He's in a great deal of pain, but the medication makes it bearable. the pain from a sprained ankle is annoying but bearable
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some of Chloe’s best friends helped make Christmas bearable. — Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026 There's a nice breeze blowing in that makes the stadium feel much more bearable. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026 So yes, the heat was there, but very bearable compared with what others experienced. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 29 June 2026 Do yourself a favor and make those long travel days a little more bearable with any of the following hacks. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bearable

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1557, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bearable was circa 1557

Rhymes for bearable

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Browse Nearby Words

bear's-weed
bearable
bear a hand
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Cite this Entry

“Bearable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bearable. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bearable

adjective
bear·​able ˈbar-ə-bəl How to pronounce bearable (audio)
ˈber-
: possible to bear

More from Merriam-Webster on bearable

Nglish: Translation of bearable for Spanish Speakers

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