1
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
an intractable child who deliberately does the opposite of whatever he is told
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stubborn
given to resisting control or discipline by others
cats are by nature fairly intractable animals
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of intractable
New York City’s affordable housing crisis frequently feels intractable.
—
John A. Crotty, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
The test has long seemed intractable to major AI companies.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025
If Alex has a bit more credibility, not being as intractable in her positions, both have a tendency to come off as disagreeable in their incessant bickering and self-righteousness.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2025
By the end of the 19th century, when America’s western frontier was largely settled, this was America’s last wilderness: difficult, intractable, dangerous.
—Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intractable
John A. Crotty, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
The test has long seemed intractable to major AI companies.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025
If Alex has a bit more credibility, not being as intractable in her positions, both have a tendency to come off as disagreeable in their incessant bickering and self-righteousness.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2025
By the end of the 19th century, when America’s western frontier was largely settled, this was America’s last wilderness: difficult, intractable, dangerous.
—Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intractable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intractable
Adjective
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Still, Adams failed to outright ask the most important questions: Were Canadians ever willing to join the rebellious Thirteen Colonies?—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
12 May 2025
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Libra: Marge Simpson from The Simpsons Only a Libra mother could calmly and miraculously put up with the shenanigans that her three rebellious children cause.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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Get The Recipe Smart Move Similar recipes with beans and peas existed before then, but a challenge made to a stubborn chef named Helen Corbitt spurred the creation of Texas caviar.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
17 May 2025
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When tragedy strikes on Michigan roads—when a car skids off an icy bend or a semi-truck barrels through a red light—victims are often left to face not only devastating injuries but also a daunting legal maze of corporate denials and stubborn insurers.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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The president's remarks note a stark difference in recent comments he's made toward the rebel group.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
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This week, rebel assassin Cinta Kaz (Varada Sethu) was accidentally shot by a Ghorman revolutionary during a routine attack on an Imperial transport ship.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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The budget does, thankfully, enshrine the Department of Government Efficiency’s acknowledgment that federal sprawl has become unmanageable.—
Veronique de Rugy,
Twin Cities,
13 May 2025
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Each box weighed close to 30 pounds—cumbersome, though not unmanageable for a moderately-strong adult.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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The defiant message comes after weeks of intense news coverage and a Republican House committee investigation into Hope Florida and its nonprofit charity arm, the Hope Florida Foundation.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2025
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For weeks, Chinese officials had projected a defiant position, demanding the US remove all tariffs on China before agreeing to come to the negotiation table.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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Big cars, bigger trucks, two-dimensional women, recalcitrant men.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
9 May 2025
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While the markets have not responded kindly, the White House insists the tariffs are bringing recalcitrant nations to the bargaining table.—
Lexi Lonas Cochran,
The Hill,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Reasonable limits on liability • Exclusions for gross negligence or willful misconduct Tip: Always read these clauses carefully and ask your attorney to explain them in plain English.—
Stephen Nalley,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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As leaders of the lo-fi indie rock sound, the musicians remained something of a secret passed among fans, their air of willful inscrutability, ambivalence toward conventional success and general irreverence inspiring a dedicated faithful that has only grown over the years.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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Daily use by adolescents and adults can result in another unpleasant side effect: uncontrollable vomiting, according to a 2021 study.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
5 May 2025
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The phenomenon happens after a person repeatedly experiences negative, uncontrollable events.—
Kim Key,
PC Magazine,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Intractable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intractable. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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