unbearable

adjective

un·​bear·​able ˌən-ˈber-ə-bəl How to pronounce unbearable (audio)
: not bearable : unendurable
unbearable pain
unbearably adverb

Examples of unbearable in a Sentence

We were in an almost unbearable state of excitement. this heat is unbearable—when are we going to get air-conditioning?
Recent Examples on the Web But if the mission does not come soon, experts and government insiders warn that mounting pressure over Haiti’s unbearable violence is likely to explode. Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 The men described in phone interviews unbearable cold, repulsive food, unsanitary conditions and beatings in Penal Colony No. 3 of the remote Yamalo-Nenets region, where Mr. Navalny arrived in December to serve out the remainder of his 19-year old prison sentence. Anatoly Kurmanaev, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 My own childhood was fairly O.K. to begin with, but went off the rails when my parents suffered unbearable tragedies and were given no help in dealing with them. Dennis Zhou, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 But the flaws plaguing this Avatar are entirely its own, separate from the unbearable weight of fan expectations. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2024 When the performers shake or wobble, the tension is unbearable. Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2024 Their relationship climaxes with a verbal showdown late in the season that is almost unbearable to watch, as Sanada and Nishioka summon the fathomless love and respect underlying the confrontation. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 27 Feb. 2024 Recommended Colorado stunner: Ballot ruling against Trump could aid him Medical workers called the odors unbearable. Najib Jobain, Wafaa Shurafa, and Samy Magdy, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Dec. 2023 It might be argued that the death of children is just about the most unbearable subject matter there is, as well as one that doesn’t offer the salacious satisfactions of love triangles and revenge killings. Matthew Aucoin, The New York Review of Books, 15 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unbearable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unbearable was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near unbearable

Cite this Entry

“Unbearable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unbearable. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unbearable

adjective
un·​bear·​able ˌən-ˈbar-ə-bəl How to pronounce unbearable (audio)
ˈən-,
-ˈber-
: greater than can be borne
unbearable pain
unbearably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on unbearable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!