4 syllables: in, tol, er, ant. Stress on tol.
/ɪnˈtoʊlərənt/
Say it backIntolerant describes a person or attitude that is unwilling to accept or respect opinions, beliefs, or behaviors that differ from their own. It implies a strict, rigid stance often leading to prejudice or discrimination. The term can apply to individuals, groups, or systems that suppress or dismiss alternative views. It signals a deficit in openness and tolerance.
"Her colleagues were shocked by her intolerant attitude toward new ideas."
"We should strive to be inclusive rather than intolerant of cultural differences."
"The policy is intolerant of dissent and stifles free expression."
Break it into syllables: in-TOL-er-ant. The primary stress is on the second syllable: /ɪnˈtɒl.ər.ənt/ in British/US transcription. In US and UK dictionaries you’ll see /ɪnˈtɑːl(ə)rənt/ or /ɪnˈtɒl ər ənt/. Start with an initial short “in” /ɪn/, then a clear “tol” with a rounded back tongue, followed by “er” with a schwa, and finish with “ant” where the final t is released. Mouth position: tall tongue for /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ depending on accent, lips neutral to slightly rounded for /ɒ/, relaxed jaw for schwa, tip of tongue near the alveolar ridge for the final /t/. Audio reference: you can compare with pronunciations on Pronounce or Forvo using the keyword intolerant to confirm /ɪnˈtɒl.ər.ənt/ or /ɪnˈtɑː.lər.ənt/ depending on accent.
Common errors: 1) Stress on the first syllable (in-TOL-erant) instead of the second. 2) Vowel conflation of /ɒ/ and /ɑː/ or mispronouncing the first syllable as /ɪnˈtoʊl/; aim for /ɪnˈtɒl/ or /ɪnˈtɑːl/ depending on accent. 3) Slurring the middle /ər/ into a quick /ɚ/ vowel; keep a distinct schwa /ə/ between /l/ and /r/ so you have /lə/. Correction: practice with minimal pairs and emphasize the second-syllable stress and the /ə/ before final /nt/.
US tends to rhotic /ɹ/ in connected speech and often keeps a clear /ɑ/ or /ɒ/ in /tɒl/ depending on region; UK often uses /ɒ/ and clearer /ˈtɒl.ər.ənt/ with non-rhoticity in careful speech; Australian typically uses /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ in /tɒl/ with broader vowel quality and a more non-rhotic style; in all, the final /nt/ remains a released consonant cluster end. Regardless, the primary stress remains on the second syllable, but vowel quality shifts are noticeable; refer to IPA transcriptions for precise teaching.
Two main challenges: the diphthong or monophthong choice in the first stressed syllable and maintaining distinct /l/ and /r/ sounds in the middle syllable /ˈtɒl.ər/. The sequence /tɒl.ər/ can be tricky if you’re not centering the tongue to separate the alveolar /l/ from the mid-central /ər/. Practice by isolating the middle syllable: /ˈtɒl.ər/ with a light schwa and a crisp /l/.
There are no silent letters in intolerant, but you must stress the second syllable and keep the /t/ in the middle crisp. The sequence /ˈtɒl.ər/ can influence vocal tract shaping; ensure the tongue doesn’t back away from the alveolar ridge before the /l/ and that the following /ər/ remains a quick, soft central vowel before the final /nt/. Using a light release on /t/ helps avoid a clipped final.
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Intolerant derives from the late Middle English intolerant, from Late Latin intolerans, intolerant-, from Latin in- ‘not’ + tolerare ‘to bear, endure’. The root toler- comes from Latin tolerance, bearing, or enduring. Intolerant first appeared in English around the 15th to 16th centuries, originally describing something not capable of toleration or enduring, often in moral or religious contexts. Over time, the sense narrowed to describe people who refuse to endure or accept differing opinions or practices. By the 19th and 20th centuries, it acquired more general usage beyond religious intolerance to include political, social, and cultural rigidity. The word carries a strongly negative charge, frequently paired with adjectives like “unreasonable” or “dogmatic.” Its usage has evolved with debates about pluralism, civil rights, and social inclusion, but the core idea remains: an incapacity or unwillingness to tolerate difference. The language evolution mirrors historical struggles with pluralism, freedom of belief, and the ethics of coexistence, making it a word often deployed in social critique and policy discussions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "intolerant" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "intolerant"
-ant sounds
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