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When words feel heavy: exploring "insufferable" vs. "unbearable"

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 17/11/2024, 22:22

English.me team member

Insufferable and unbearable. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both "insufferable" and "unbearable" describe something intolerable or extremely difficult to endure.

What is different?

"Insufferable" often describes something annoying, overbearing, or arrogant, and is sometimes used with a more social or emotional connotation. "Unbearable" typically refers to something that causes physical or emotional pain or discomfort that is too intense to endure.

Which one is more common?

Internet search results for insufferable) and unbearable

Examples of usage

Insufferable

His insufferable arrogance drove everyone away.
The heat in the room was insufferable.
She found his smug attitude insufferable.

Unbearable

The pain of the injury was unbearable.
The summer heat was unbearable without air conditioning.
The loss was too unbearable for her to talk about.

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