insupportable
UK[ˌɪnsəˈpɔːtəbl]US[ˌɪnsəˈpɔːrtəbl]
adj
impossible to bear or endure; intolerable.
adj
impossible to justify or defend; indefensible.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
support
able
in
not
support
bear
able
capable of
Etymology
the word 'insupportable' is built from latin components that entered english via anglo-norman and middle french. the prefix 'in-' negates the core concept derived from 'supportare', which combines 'sub-' (from below) and 'portare' (to carry), conveying the literal sense of 'bearing up'. the suffix '-able' indicates a quality or capacity. therefore, the etymological logic moves from the literal idea of 'not capable of being borne up from below' to the modern abstract meanings of being unbearable to endure or impossible to justify.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + support (bear) + able (capable of)
in- (latin origin, a prefix meaning 'not'); support (from latin 'supportare', meaning 'to bear, to carry'); -able (latin suffix '-abilis', meaning 'capable of, fit for').
Examples
the pain from his injury was insupportable without strong medication.
she found his arrogant attitude utterly insupportable.
the prosecutor argued that the defendant's actions were an insupportable violation of trust.