intractable
adjective
in·trac·ta·ble (ˌ)in-ˈtrak-tə-bəl 
1
: not easily governed, managed, or directed
intractable problems
2
: not easily relieved or cured
intractable pain
3
: not easily manipulated or shaped
intractable metal
intractability
(ˌ)in-ˌtrak-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun intractably
(ˌ)in-ˈtrak-tə-blē
adverb 
Synonyms
- balky
- contrary
- contumacious
- defiant
- disobedient
- froward
- incompliant
- insubordinate
- obstreperous
- rebel
- rebellious
- recalcitrant
- recusant
- refractory
- restive
- ungovernable
- unruly
- untoward
- wayward
- willful
- wilful
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Contrary to the idea of black holes sucking everything, even light, into inconceivable nothingness, Hawking proposed that there was one thing that could escape a black hole's intractable grip: thermal radiation … 
Bruno Maddox, Discover, September 2006 Sepsis, which is what happens to the body when an infection goes bad, is one of mankind's oldest and most intractable foes. Leon Jaroff, Time, 24 July 2000 But now anesthesiologists have begun turning to an herb to help treat a deadly and often intractable lung condition that affects hundreds of thousands of people a year. Eric Nagourney, New York Times, 26 Oct. 1999 a patient experiencing intractable pain an intractable child who deliberately does the opposite of whatever he is told
Bruno Maddox, Discover, September 2006 Sepsis, which is what happens to the body when an infection goes bad, is one of mankind's oldest and most intractable foes. Leon Jaroff, Time, 24 July 2000 But now anesthesiologists have begun turning to an herb to help treat a deadly and often intractable lung condition that affects hundreds of thousands of people a year. Eric Nagourney, New York Times, 26 Oct. 1999 a patient experiencing intractable pain an intractable child who deliberately does the opposite of whatever he is told Recent Examples on the Web With more autonomy and perspective following her divorce, French Gates’ take might be just what philanthropy —and society at large— needs to solve for today’s most intractable issues. Moira Forbes, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 Gates was banking on more than just his trademark optimism about addressing climate change and other seemingly intractable problems that have been his focus since stepping down as Microsoft’s chief executive two decades ago. James Freeman, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 Wilk is troubled by the societal impulse to cede intractable problems like the climate crisis to the realm of individual responsibility. Michael Friedrich, The Atlantic, 25 July 2022 Cheap EVs are the solution to these intractable problems, not more domestic oil that will take years to produce and flow beyond our borders. Energy Innovation: Policy And Technology, Forbes, 21 June 2022 At the heart of the disagreement with the EU is one of Brexit’s most intractable problems: maintaining peace on the island Ireland while also enforcing border checks. Laurence Norman, WSJ, 15 June 2022 Biden admitting his inability to fix intractable problems might be honest, but it’s also a political problem in and of itself for a President whose leadership has increasingly come into question. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 3 June 2022 In Texas, medical marijuana is only legally available in low THC dosages to patients suffering from a short list of diseases including some forms of cancer and intractable epilepsy. Dan Carson, Chron, 15 July 2022 The entirety of the movie is, in effect, a counter-story—i.e., the complex and intractable truth, which had little place in French public life or in the sense of French identity. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 July 2022 See More
Moira Forbes, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 Gates was banking on more than just his trademark optimism about addressing climate change and other seemingly intractable problems that have been his focus since stepping down as Microsoft’s chief executive two decades ago. James Freeman, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 Wilk is troubled by the societal impulse to cede intractable problems like the climate crisis to the realm of individual responsibility. Michael Friedrich, The Atlantic, 25 July 2022 Cheap EVs are the solution to these intractable problems, not more domestic oil that will take years to produce and flow beyond our borders. Energy Innovation: Policy And Technology, Forbes, 21 June 2022 At the heart of the disagreement with the EU is one of Brexit’s most intractable problems: maintaining peace on the island Ireland while also enforcing border checks. Laurence Norman, WSJ, 15 June 2022 Biden admitting his inability to fix intractable problems might be honest, but it’s also a political problem in and of itself for a President whose leadership has increasingly come into question. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 3 June 2022 In Texas, medical marijuana is only legally available in low THC dosages to patients suffering from a short list of diseases including some forms of cancer and intractable epilepsy. Dan Carson, Chron, 15 July 2022 The entirety of the movie is, in effect, a counter-story—i.e., the complex and intractable truth, which had little place in French public life or in the sense of French identity. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin intractabilis, from in- + tractabilis tractable
First Known Use
1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
intractable
adjective
in·trac·ta·ble (ˈ)in-ˈtrak-tə-bəl
1
: not easily managed or controlled (as by antibiotics or psychotherapy)
an intractable child
activity against many intractable Proteus and Pseudomonas species of bacteria Annual Report Pfizer
Annual Report Pfizer2
: not easily relieved or cured
intractable pain
intractable bleeding in duodenal ulcer Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal of the American Medical Associationintractable
adjective
1
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control an intractable child who deliberately does the opposite of whatever he is told Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- rebellious
- rebel
- stubborn
- defiant
- recalcitrant
- refractory
- willful
- ungovernable
- obstreperous
- dogged
- rigid
- balky
- unruly
- contrary
- contumacious
- restive
- insubordinate
- disobedient
- adamant
- wayward
- mischievous
- uncontrollable
- naughty
- incompliant
- resistant
- uncooperative
- untoward
- wilful
- unmanageable
- insurgent
- wild
- obdurate
- dissident
- implacable
- obstinate
- froward
- recusant
- noncooperative
- bad
- monkeying
- fractious
- rude
- mulish
- inflexible
- unrelenting
- mutinous
- pigheaded
- peevish
- unyielding
- unbending
- immovable
- pertinacious
- opinionated
- wrongheaded
- hardheaded
- uncompromising
- negativistic
- headstrong
- adamantine
- perverse
- disorderly
- undisciplined
- ornery
- self-willed
- misbehaving
- insolent
- impudent
- ungracious
- errant
- discourteous
- disrespectful
- uncivil
- impolite
- uncouth
- impertinent
- unmannerly
- inconsiderate
- nonconformist
- monkeyish
- ill-mannered
- ill-natured
- ill-bred
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tractable
- amenable
- cooperative
- docile
- amiable
- obedient
- compliant
- conformable
- biddable
- agreeable
- acquiescent
- deferential
- submissive
- obliging
- behaved
- yielding
- disciplined
- polite
- ruly
- respectful
- courteous
- obsequious
- subservient
- governable
- controllable
- slavish
- manageable
- servile
- orderly
- proper
- decorous
- trainable
- well-bred
- mannerly
- kowtowing
2
as in stubborn
given to resisting control or discipline by others cats are by nature fairly intractable animals Synonyms & Similar Words
- stubborn
- unmanageable
- recalcitrant
- uncontrollable
- refractory
- ungovernable
- difficult
- unruly
- intransigent
- willful
- headstrong
- rebellious
- wayward
- incontrollable
- obdurate
- obstinate
- wilful
- naughty
- bullheaded
- mulish
- untoward
- pigheaded
- incorrigible
- froward
- stiff
- uncontrolled
- hardheaded
- out of hand
- undisciplined
- wild
- opinionated
- perverse
- irrepressible
- boisterous
- rowdy
- contrary
- self-willed
- unpunished
- rambunctious
- insubordinate
- stiff-necked
- disobedient
- misbehaving
- indocile
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tractable
- governable
- controllable
- manageable
- docile
- obedient
- pliable
- compliant
- placable
- submissive
- yielding
- receptive
- responsive
- willing
- persuadable
- well-behaved
- reasonable
- accepting
- trainable
- temperate
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of intractable are headstrong, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, unruly, and willful. While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.
intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump
The synonyms headstrong and intractable are sometimes interchangeable, but headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.
a headstrong young cavalry officer
Although the words recalcitrant and intractable have much in common, recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.
acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace
While in some cases nearly identical to intractable, refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.
special schools for refractory children
The words ungovernable and intractable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ungovernable implies either an escape from control or guidance or a state of being unsubdued and incapable of controlling oneself or being controlled by others.
ungovernable rage
The words unruly and intractable can be used in similar contexts, but unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.
unruly children
The meanings of willful and intractable largely overlap; however, willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.
a willful disregard for the rights of others