intractable

[in-trak-tuh-buhl] / ɪnˈtræk tə bəl /

ADJECTIVE

difficult

Synonyms

STRONGEST

incurable intransigent stubborn uncompromising unmanageable

WEAK

awkward bull-headed cantankerous contrary fractious hang-tough hard-line headstrong immovable incompliant indocile indomitable insoluble locked locked-in mulish obdurate obstinate pat pertinacious perverse pig-headed recalcitrant refractory resolute self-willed tenacious tough unbending uncooperative undisciplined ungovernable unpliable unruly unyielding wayward wild willful

Antonyms

STRONGEST

willing

WEAK

manageable

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Creating a more durable ceasefire will require some kind of agreement to at least keep talking about the two sides' contradictory lists of intractable issues.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Overlapping plots and jurisdictions trigger intractable land disputes.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

"Their paper should enable a broad spectrum of studies that previously were intractable."

From Science Daily • Jan. 19, 2026

The deal is now at an intractable impasse, people involved in the talks say.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025

This struck him as an intractable problem, for a variety of reasons.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt

Vocabulary lists containing intractable

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This Week in Words: May 11–17, 2019

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