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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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
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In 1968, the massive Tet Offensive opened young eyes to the intractable horror that had become the Vietnam conflict.
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As president, Trump has proceeded cautiously, hoping to preserve his ability to serve as an effective mediator for one of the world’s most intractable conflicts.
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Hornqvist, who will be a game-time decision for Game 1 while recovering from upper-body injury, gives the Penguins a nearly intractable net-front presence.
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No longer forced to nitpick over which government programs to cut, political leaders emerge with new initiatives to help solve seemingly intractable social problems, like drug addiction.
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
Synonym Discussion of intractable
INTRACTABLE Defined for English Language Learners
intractable
playDefinition of intractable for English Language Learners
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: not easily managed, controlled, or solved
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: not easily relieved or cured
Medical Dictionary
intractable
playMedical Definition of intractable
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
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See words that rhyme with intractable Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for intractable Spanish Central: Translation of intractable Nglish: Translation of intractable for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of intractable for Arabic speakers
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