How to Use tolerate in a Sentence

tolerate

verb
  • I can't tolerate that noise.
  • These plants tolerate drought well.
  • How can you tolerate such laziness?
  • I don't like my boss, but I tolerate him.
  • Our teacher will not tolerate bad grammar.
  • Racist or sexist behavior will not be tolerated.
  • The government cannot tolerate lawlessness.
  • Plants tolerate both wet and dry soil and stand up well to heat.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Plants tolerate both wet and dry soil and stand up well to heat.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026
  • These were tough guys who worked hard and didn’t tolerate fools.
    — Terry Pluto, cleveland, 25 Nov. 2021
  • Avoid any foods your body doesn't tolerate well.
    — Sarah Hudgens, Health, 6 Nov. 2025
  • This plant tolerates salt spray, full sun, drought, and wet soils.
    — Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
  • That’s low light, and a few plants tolerate it—but none thrive in it.
    — Alicia Andrzejewski, Outside Online, 15 Apr. 2022
  • This oak tolerates many soil types.
    — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
  • This oak tolerates many soil types.
    — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Plants tolerate heat, drought, and salt.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 May 2026
  • Well, tolerate, yeah, and here's why.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
  • These plants are easy to care for and tolerate some neglect.
    — Lauren David, Southern Living, 4 June 2026
  • That’s good news for those who do not tolerate caffeine well.
    — Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 23 Sep. 2021
  • And yet most readers wouldn't tolerate a snail-like pace in a book.
    — CBS News, 15 Dec. 2021
  • Squash will absorb heavy rain and crack, and the fruits cannot tolerate frost.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Plants tolerate light frost, but do not survive hard freezes.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Some species thrive in sun while others tolerate shade.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Dec. 2025
  • To ask someone to tolerate it for years?
    — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Young children should not be left alone, and the youngest can’t tolerate masks.
    — Liz Szabo, NBC News, 17 May 2022
  • Most deer can't tolerate the smell of these things and will stay away from any crops that have been sprayed.
    — Angela Watson, chicagotribune.com, 4 Apr. 2021
  • Many cats that don’t tolerate much petting are still thrilled to sit in your lap and snooze.
    — Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Apr. 2021
  • Even people who hate cilantro may be able to learn to at least tolerate it, if not like it.
    — Terry Ward, CNN, 19 Oct. 2022
  • If your space is shadier, stick with crops like lettuce or spinach that can tolerate less light.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
  • If your space is shadier, stick with crops like lettuce or spinach that can tolerate less light.
    — Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tolerate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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