You know those moments when you’re just hanging in there, dealing with something or someone you don’t exactly love? Maybe it’s a loud neighbor or a weird situation at work. The word “tolerate” pops into your mind, right? But what if I told you there are tons of other words you can use instead? Yep, we’re about to explore 21 of them.
1. Endure
When you “endure” something, it means you’re going through something tough without giving up. You might not enjoy it, but you’re getting through it. For example, “She had to endure the long hours at work to finish the project on time.” Enduring means keeping your head up, even when things are difficult. It’s like going on a rough hike and pushing yourself to finish, even though your legs hurt. So, next time you’re dealing with a challenge, think about how you’re enduring it!
2. Bear
To “bear” something means to handle or carry a difficult situation. It’s often used when you’re showing patience or restraint. “He couldn’t bear the loud noise coming from the street, so he moved his desk.” It’s about not letting things break you, no matter how hard they might be. Think about it like carrying a heavy bag—you might not like it, but you manage to do it without dropping everything. “Bearing” a situation shows strength!
3. Put Up With
“Put up with” is a friendly way of saying you tolerate something that isn’t easy to deal with. “I can’t put up with the constant interruptions at work anymore.” It implies you’re handling something that annoys you but aren’t letting it affect you too much. Like when you’re dealing with a friend’s bad habit, you tolerate it because you care about the relationship, even if it drives you crazy sometimes!
4. Abide
When you “abide” something, you’re sticking with it, even if it’s uncomfortable. “She abides by the rules even when they seem unnecessary.” It’s about respecting a situation or person, even when you don’t agree. Abiding means standing strong with your choice, whether it’s a rule at school or a family tradition. If you say, “I can abide by this,” it means you’re willing to keep going, even if it’s not your favorite thing to do.
5. Accept
To “accept” something means you agree to deal with it, even if it’s not ideal. “He accepted that he had to work late to finish the task.” This doesn’t always mean you’re happy about it, but you’re letting go of any resistance. It’s like when you accept the weather—you might not like it, but you still go about your day. Accepting something means you’re making peace with it and carrying on.
6. Suffer
“Suffer” means to go through something painful or difficult, but without giving up. “He suffered through the tough training sessions to become a better athlete.” It’s not necessarily about physical pain; it could be emotional or mental. Think of it like watching a sad movie—you’re feeling the sadness, but you keep watching until it’s over. Suffering means facing something tough head-on and getting through it.
7. Stand
To “stand” something means you can tolerate it for a while. It’s a bit like putting up with something, but maybe for shorter periods. “I can’t stand waiting in long lines at the grocery store.” You “stand” things for a moment, but it’s clear that you won’t tolerate them forever. It’s a quick burst of patience that you can handle for just a bit longer before you’re done.
8. Live With
“Living with” something is like accepting it as part of your daily life. “She’s been living with her noisy neighbors for years and hasn’t complained.” It’s about getting used to something over time. Sometimes, you just learn to live with things, whether it’s a messy room or a long commute. You adjust your mindset and carry on without making a big deal out of it.
9. Deal With
“Dealing with” something means you’re handling it, even if you don’t like it. “He has to deal with a lot of stress at work but manages to stay calm.” It’s all about taking action and moving forward, no matter how difficult the situation is. It’s like dealing with a bad day—you handle it, push through it, and try to make the best of it.
10. Weather
To “weather” something means you’re going through it, no matter how hard it is. “They weathered the storm and kept the business open despite the tough times.” This one is all about strength. You face a tough situation, like bad weather, and you keep going. You might be wet, tired, and frustrated, but you don’t let it stop you from moving forward.
11. Endure
“Endure” means to last through something difficult. “She endured a lot of pain during the surgery, but she recovered quickly.” It’s not about enjoying the experience; it’s about surviving it. It’s like running a marathon—you keep going even though you’re tired, because you know you can make it to the end. To endure is to hold on through the hardest times.
12. Accept
“Accept” means to make peace with a situation, no matter how tough it is. “I had to accept that my vacation plans were canceled.” It’s a peaceful way of saying, “I’m okay with this, even if I didn’t want it.” Accepting is about moving forward, even when things don’t go the way you imagined.
13. Submit
To “submit” is to give in to something that you can’t change. “He submitted to the decision even though he didn’t agree with it.” It’s not about enjoying the situation; it’s about respecting it. When you submit, you’re letting go of the fight, knowing that there’s no other choice.
14. Live Through
“Living through” something means you’ve survived a tough situation. “She lived through a challenging year but came out stronger.” It’s like going through something difficult but making it to the other side. It shows strength and resilience. Living through something means coming out alive and well on the other side.
15. Face
When you “face” something, you’re directly dealing with it. “He had to face the consequences of his actions, no matter how hard it was.” Facing something can be difficult, but it means you’re confronting it head-on instead of avoiding it. It’s like facing your fears—you know it’s going to be tough, but you know you can get through it.
16. Endure
To “endure” means to keep going, even when it’s tough. “She endured the long wait at the airport with a book in hand.” It’s not about being happy about it, but showing patience. Endurance is about staying steady and calm despite the challenges.
17. Go Through
“Going through” something means experiencing it, even when it’s hard. “She went through a lot of stress during the move but handled it well.” It’s like going through a tough situation—whether it’s emotional or physical—and coming out stronger in the end.
18. Accept
“Accepting” something is about agreeing to deal with it. “He accepted that the project was taking longer than expected and stayed focused.” It’s a peaceful way to say, “I’m okay with this situation.”
19. Overcome
“Overcoming” something is dealing with it until it’s no longer an issue. “They overcame their fear of public speaking and delivered a great speech.” It’s like running a race and crossing the finish line, despite all the obstacles along the way.
20. Handle
To “handle” something means to deal with it in a calm and controlled way. “She handled the difficult conversation with her boss very professionally.” It’s about being strong and composed, no matter how tough the situation is.
21. Come to Terms With
“Coming to terms with” something means accepting and understanding it, even if it’s hard. “He came to terms with the fact that he had to move away from his hometown.” It’s about making peace with something difficult so you can move forward without letting it weigh you down.
I hope this list of synonyms for “tolerate” gives you more options to express yourself in everyday conversations. Next time you want to sound a bit more creative, try using one of these words! Language is full of fun ways to communicate, and adding variety can make your writing and speaking way more interesting.
