Main Entry: in·trac·ta·ble

Pronunciation: \(ˈ)in-ˈtrak-tə-bəl\

Function: adjective

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>
2 : not easily relieved or cured <intractable pain> <intractable bleeding in duodenal ulcer—Journal of the American Medical Association>

—in·trac·ta·bil·i·ty \(ˌ)in-ˌtrak-tə-ˈbil-ət-ē\ noun, plural in·trac·ta·bil·i·ties