intransigent

adjective

in·​tran·​si·​gent in-ˈtran(t)-sə-jənt 

-ˈtran-zə

: characterized by refusal to compromise or to abandon an often extreme position or attitude : uncompromising

intransigent in their opposition

an intransigent attitude

intransigent noun

intransigently adverb

Did you know?

Both intransigent and its younger sibling intransigence come to English from the Spanish adjective intransigente, meaning "uncompromising," and ultimately from the Latin verb transigere, "to come to an agreement." Knowing that many English words with the prefix in- have prefix-less antonyms, one might guess that transigent has its own place in our language. While this word does pop up occasionally in print, it is too uncommon at this point to qualify for entry in our dictionaries. Since intransigent is a Spanish borrowing, English transigent is considered a back-formation–that is, a word formed by subtraction of a real or supposed affix.

Synonyms of intransigent

• stubborn
• adamant
• steadfast

Examples of intransigent in a Sentence

He has remained intransigent in his opposition to the proposal.

he has remained intransigent, refusing all suggestions for improvement of the process

Recent Examples on the Web

As Lawson’s Racing Bull got held up by Carlos Sainz’ slow Williams in front, Verstappen wanted past in the Red Bull, but both drivers were intransigent, and neither was prepared to yield. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026

Hays' efforts to find a solution to the controversy satisfied neither civil right activists nor intransigent segregationists. — Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026

Gorbachev, hamstrung by demands from hard-liners back in Moscow, was equally intransigent that no deal could be made so long as SDI was in the works. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026

Netanyahu and Hamas’s leadership remained intransigent, and the war continued into 2025. — Dafna H. Rand, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish intransigente, from in- + transigente, present participle of transigir to compromise, from Latin transigere to come to an agreement — more at transact

First Known Use

circa 1879, in the meaning defined above

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