Unbearable
/ʌnˈbɛərəbəl/
Definitions
So extreme or intense as to be impossible to bear; intolerable.
/ʌnˈbɛərəbəl/
Not able to be endured or tolerated.
The pain in his leg was unbearable.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're at the beach, but the sun is scorching and there's no shade. That super uncomfortable feeling? That's something unbearable. It means something is just too much to handle.
👶 For kids: When something is so bad you just can't stand it, like a super itchy tag in your shirt.
More Examples
The silence in the empty house was unbearable.
The constant criticism from his boss made his job unbearable.
The stench from the garbage dump was unbearable.
How It's Used
"The heat was unbearable."
"She found the loneliness unbearable after the loss of her pet."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Middle English *unberable*, equivalent to un- + bearable. "Bearable" comes from "bear" meaning to endure or tolerate.
The word 'unbearable' has been in use since the late 14th century, evolving from the concept of something one could not endure.
Memory tip
Think of a bear - if you cannot *bear* to be around it, it is *unbearable*.
Word Origin
"unable to be endured; intolerable"