supportable

bearable, tolerable

adjective sü-por-TAHBL Rare

Usage Note

Supportable is a 'false friend' trap: it does NOT mean 'supportable' (able to be supported) in English — it means 'bearable, endurable'. The English sense of 'supportable' is better rendered by défendable or justifiable. Its antonym insupportable (unbearable) is actually more frequent in everyday French.

Examples

"La douleur est à peine supportable."

Natural Translation

The pain is barely bearable.

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