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 of intractable

• rebellious
• rebel
• stubborn
• defiant
• recalcitrant

Choose the Right Synonym for intractable

unruly, ungovernable, intractable, refractory, recalcitrant, willful, headstrong mean not submissive to government or control.

unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.

unruly children

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

intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.

intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.

special schools for refractory children

recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.

acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.

a willful disregard for the rights of others

headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.

a headstrong young cavalry officer

Examples of intractable in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Many people say the American healthcare system is largely broken, or at least facing seemingly intractable problems. — Nick Thomas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026

The summer recess is increasingly looking like an intractable deadline for the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan effort headed by Sens. — ABC News, 31 July 2026

The onset of symptoms In 2022, Marshall started having intractable pain in her abdomen. — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 30 July 2026

Recognizing the intractable nature of this problem, Gulf states are already planning to reduce their reliance on the strait, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE likely best positioned to develop new oil shipping routes. — Michael P. Dempsey, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin intractābilis, from in- in- entry 1 + tractābilis "manageable, tractable"

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for intractable

• tractable
• extractable
• retractable

Kids Definition

intractable

adjective

in·​trac·​ta·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈtrak-tə-bəl 

1

: not easily managed or controlled

an intractable child

2

: not easily relieved or cured

intractable pain

intractability

(ˌ)in-ˌtrak-tə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

intractably

(ˈ)in-ˈtrak-tə-blē 

adverb

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

2

: not easily relieved or cured

intractable pain

intractable bleeding in duodenal ulcer

—The Journal of the American Medical Association

intractability

(ˌ)in-ˌtrak-tə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural intractabilities