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unbearableso painful, uncomfortable, or unpleasant as to be impossible to endure

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: so painful, uncomfortable, or unpleasant as to be impossible to endure

Pronunciation (IPA): /ʌnˈberəbl/

Example Sentences

  • The mosquito buzzing was unbearable during the camping trip.
  • My little brother's singing in the shower is absolutely unbearable.
  • The waiting time for the exam results felt unbearable.

unbearable

ADJECTIVE

[/ʌnˈberəbl/]

so painful, uncomfortable, or unpleasant as to be impossible to endure

The unbearable heat forced everyone to leave the beach.
💡 Concept

The unbearable heat forced everyone to leave the beach.

The pain was unbearable because she could no longer bear it. (bear = to endure, tolerate + able = able to + un- = not)
🧠 Mnemonic

The pain was unbearable because she could no longer bear it. (bear = to endure, tolerate + able = able to + un- = not)

The unbearable heat became bearable inside the comfortable cabin.
🎵 Rhyme

The unbearable heat became bearable inside the comfortable cabin.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ʌnˈberəbl/
🇬🇧 UK/ʌnˈbeərəbl/

🌳Etymology

Prefixun--
Rootbear
Suffix--able

Origin

The word emerged in the 14th century from the combination of the verb 'bear' (meaning to endure or tolerate) with the negative prefix 'un-' and the adjectival suffix '-able'. It originally conveyed situations of such extreme difficulty that even the strongest could not endure them.

Breakdown

un- (not) + bear (to endure, from Old English 'beran') + -able (capable of, from Latin '-abilis'). Together: 'not capable of being endured'.

🎵Rhyme

terriblewearablebearable
terrible
wearable
bearable

🔗Collocations

unbearable pain
unbearable heat
unbearable pressure
unbearable situation
find something unbearable
almost unbearable

📝Examples

The mosquito buzzing was unbearable during the camping trip.

😄 Fun example

My little brother's singing in the shower is absolutely unbearable.

The waiting time for the exam results felt unbearable.

😄 Fun example

The smell of my roommate's gym socks is unbearable.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

intolerableinsufferableunendurableexcruciatingoverwhelming

Antonyms

bearabletolerableendurable

Related

painfuluncomfortableintensesevereextreme

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