intolerant

Unable to eat a certain food or take a certain substance without becoming unwell.

• My brother is lactose intolerant.
• People who are gluten intolerant must check food labels.
• Are you intolerant to any foods?

How to use it: intolerant to something (She is intolerant to lactose and avoids milk.)

Similar words: allergic

Opposites: tolerant

Common phrases: lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, intolerant to something

Unwilling to accept people whose ideas, beliefs, or ways of living are different from yours.

• His intolerant views upset me.
• She is intolerant of other people's beliefs.
• The group became more intolerant as its influence grew.

How to use it: intolerant of someone/something (The leader was intolerant of anyone who disagreed with him.)

Similar words: narrow-minded, bigoted, close-minded

Opposites: tolerant, open-minded

Common phrases: intolerant attitudes, intolerant of others, intolerant society

Unable or unwilling to bear something unpleasant or difficult.

• This plant is intolerant of frost.
• He grew increasingly intolerant of delays.
• Some animals are intolerant of sudden temperature changes.

How to use it: intolerant of something (These plants are intolerant of extreme heat.)

Similar words: sensitive, impatient

Opposites: tolerant

Common phrases: intolerant of heat, intolerant of delay, cold intolerant

A person who refuses to accept people with different beliefs or opinions.

• He was known as an intolerant.
• The writer criticized the intolerants who opposed religious freedom.
• An intolerant refuses to listen to different beliefs.

Similar words: bigot

Common phrases: a religious intolerant, an intolerant's views