intractable

adjective in·trac·ta·ble \ (ˌ)in-ˈtrak-tə-bəl \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: intractable in a Sentence

Definition of intractable

1 : not easily governed, managed, or directed

intractable problems

2 : not easily manipulated or shaped

intractable metal

3 : not easily relieved or cured

intractable pain

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intractability

play \(ˌ)in-ˌtrak-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

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intractably

play \(ˌ)in-ˈtrak-tə-blē\ adverb

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See intractable defined for kids

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 of intractable from the Web

Poorer countries seem to have picked up our intractable health problems.

— sandy bauers, Philly.com, "Chronic diseases, accidents are the top global health threats. What can we do about it?," 1 June 2018
All of this makes the problem even more intractable.

— angela chen, The Verge, "How fake drugs can make you sicker — even if you never take them," 24 May 2018
In the most intractable cases, patients may experience hundreds of seizures a day.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego startup Bloom Science seeks to fight epilepsy through the gut," 25 May 2018
But homelessness remains one of California’s – and America’s – most intractable problems.

— jessica mendoza, The Christian Science Monitor, "Why cracking California’s homeless crisis will take more than money," 10 May 2018
Many are also trying to steer its economic benefits to the forlorn towns and neighborhoods that have posed the most intractable economic puzzles.

— author: richard fausset, Anchorage Daily News, "A dying town needed a miracle. Marijuana came calling.," 29 Mar. 2018
The conflict over the 13-year-old RFS that mandates biofuel use at a certain level began long before Trump moved into the White House, and it’s among the most intractable energy policy disputes in Washington.

— mario parker, Bloomberg.com, "Third White House Biofuel Summit This Week Ends Without Deal," 1 Mar. 2018
Third, and knottiest of all, some governments are warming to the idea of weaponising the budget to resolve some of the EU’s most intractable disputes.

— The Economist, "CharlemagneThe European Union’s budget may soon be weaponised," 18 Jan. 2018
Science denialism can seem intractable, and studies on the topic are seldom encouraging.

— amanda montañez, Scientific American, "People Who Understand Evolution Are More Likely to Accept It," 8 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'intractable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of intractable

Latin intractabilis, from in- + tractabilis tractable

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First Known Use: 1531

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

intractable Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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.