as in rebellion
refusal to obey
the dog's frustrating intractability forced the family to try obedience training by a professional
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intractability
Noun
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Many standard policies carve out exceptions for disruptions due to war, undeclared war, civil disorder, rebellion, military activity or government intervention, experts said.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026 -
Storytelling will never not be a form of rebellion.—
Laura Dave,
Time,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Overnight, a show of defiance inside Venezuela from Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello Rondón, who posted a video to social media making his allegiances clear.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
7 Jan. 2026
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During her own allocution moments later, Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, likewise struck a note of defiance and introduced herself as the First Lady of Venezuela, her face appearing bruised and bandaged.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The orphan’s predicament is as much a matter of willfulness as of survival—inseparable, as in the works of Charles Dickens, from a dream of being somehow rescued by the idea of an adult world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
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While this change reduces the explicit admission of willfulness, a narrative is still required.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The city faces large fines and legal fees, and might even lose its zoning power to a receiver because of its recalcitrance.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
19 Nov. 2025
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Ukraine and its European allies have urged Trump to take tougher action in response to Russia’s recalcitrance. Applying sanctions on countries that do business with Russia will have a wide-ranging impact including on some U.S. allies and will ramp up pressure on Russia and its struggling economy.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Nov. 2025
Noun
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At times, Carol’s admirable rebelliousness seems to come at the cost of self-flagellating destruction, a badge of honor to be miserable.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
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The performance goes from fiery to ineffectual as DiCaprio’s character, Bob, loses his youthful rebelliousness in a haze of pot and resignation.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Chinese diplomatic backlash was instantaneous, with one Chinese official based in Tokyo threatening to cut off her head for the disrespect of her comments.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Dec. 2025
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Bro, don’t marry Svetlana (no disrespect to Svetlana).—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
27 Dec. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Intractability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intractability. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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