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Tolerant

adj. kind, thoughtful everyday

What it means

Willing to allow genuine differences without hostility or unfair treatment.

Reach for it when describing acceptance of beliefs, identities, or practices one may not share

A tolerant moderator protected disagreement while stopping personal attacks.

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom. Tap a word to see when it fits.
playful
everyday
warm
professional
formal

  • playful

    live-and-let-live

    Fits when relaxed noninterference suits an informal voice

    Careful The phrase can sound detached where active protection from discrimination is needed.

  • everyday

    open-minded

    Fits when willingness to reconsider one's own view is central

    Careful Open-minded concerns ideas; it may not show fair treatment of people already disliked.

  • warm

    accepting

    Fits when welcome and personal inclusion go beyond mere permission

    Careful Accepting may imply approval, while tolerance can coexist with disagreement.

  • warm

    patient

    Fits when calmly enduring irritation or delay is the relevant virtue

    Careful Patient is wrong if the issue is equal respect rather than inconvenience.

  • professional

    inclusive

    Fits when structures actively enable different people to participate

    Careful Inclusive is stronger and more active than simply allowing difference.

  • professional

    respectful

    Fits when civil treatment matters regardless of agreement

    Careful Respectful describes conduct, not necessarily willingness to let difference continue.

  • formal

    broad-minded

    Fits when freedom from narrow social judgment is the compliment

    Careful Broad-minded can sound dated and is vague about concrete behavior.

  • formal

    permissive

    Fits when rules allow wide latitude

    Careful Permissive can imply standards are too loose and is risky praise for character.

Opposites 3

  • intolerant
  • prejudiced
  • bigoted

Common phrases 3

  • tolerant society

    A tolerant society gives minority beliefs the same legal protection as familiar ones.

  • tolerant attitude

    His tolerant attitude allowed the family to discuss politics without contempt.

  • tolerant of

    The group was tolerant of unconventional proposals but strict about evidence.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated