INTRACTABLE Synonyms: 142 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'intractable' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of intractable are headstrong , recalcitrant , refractory , ungovernable , unruly , and willful . While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control. // intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

Q: When would 'headstrong' be a good substitute for 'intractable'?

The synonyms headstrong and intractable are sometimes interchangeable, but headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion. // a headstrong young cavalry officer

Q: When is 'recalcitrant' a more appropriate choice than 'intractable'?

Although the words recalcitrant and intractable have much in common, recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority. // acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

Q: When can 'refractory' be used instead of 'intractable'?

While in some cases nearly identical to intractable , refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold. // special schools for refractory children

Q: Where would 'ungovernable' be a reasonable alternative to 'intractable'?

The words ungovernable and intractable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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. // ungovernable rage

Q: When is it sensible to use 'unruly' instead of 'intractable'?

The words unruly and intractable can be used in similar contexts, but unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior. // unruly children

Q: When could 'willful' be used to replace 'intractable'?

The meanings of willful and intractable largely overlap; however, willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way. // a willful disregard for the rights of others

intractable

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈtrak-tə-bəl

Definition of intractable

as in rebellious

given to resisting authority or another's control an intractable child who deliberately does the opposite of whatever he is told

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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How does the adjective intractable differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of intractable are headstrong, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, unruly, and willful. While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.

intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

When would headstrong be a good substitute for intractable?

The synonyms headstrong and intractable are sometimes interchangeable, but headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.

a headstrong young cavalry officer

When is recalcitrant a more appropriate choice than intractable?

Although the words recalcitrant and intractable have much in common, recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.

acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

When can refractory be used instead of intractable?

While in some cases nearly identical to intractable, refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.

special schools for refractory children

Where would ungovernable be a reasonable alternative to intractable?

The words ungovernable and intractable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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.

ungovernable rage

When is it sensible to use unruly instead of intractable?

The words unruly and intractable can be used in similar contexts, but unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.

unruly children

When could willful be used to replace intractable?

The meanings of willful and intractable largely overlap; however, willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.

a willful disregard for the rights of others

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of intractable Like most fashion editors, Bobbi was sophisticated and discerning and — like most fashion editors — often intractable with immovable points of view. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 6 July 2026 For as long as the American Dream has been around, homeownership was considered an intractable piece of the wealth-building puzzle. — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 30 June 2026 Two Ships is thus a narrative for our time, when the aspirational vision of oneness has given way to intractable twoness. — James Traub, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026 How these issues are handled could fuel the engine of progress on some seemingly intractable issues over the next two years, or stall it. — Evan Thies, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for intractable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for intractable

Adjective

The inspiration behind this rock-and-roll icon, however, lies in Hindu spiritual symbolism, whose meanings contrast sharply with the rebellious image the logo projects.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 July 2026
Judy Davis stars as Sybylla, a rebellious young woman in 19th century Australia who longs to be a writer, but her traditionalist parents refuse to indulge those dreams, sending her to board with her wealthy grandmother instead.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026

Definition of rebellious

Adjective

Backed by water tankers and a helicopter, firefighters on Sunday fought to contain a stubborn wildfire in Northern California that prompted officials to order evacuations.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026
Individual quality and a moment of magic can often be the key to unlock a stubborn defence, and Vinicius Jr has frequently been the difference for Madrid.

— Mark Carey, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Definition of stubborn

Adjective

New research from Omdia, commissioned by Apica and surveying 300 enterprise IT decision-makers, found that 59% of enterprises have already terminated or delayed an agentic AI deployment because observability costs have become unmanageable.

— Andi Mann, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
In his view, the Bank of Japan is suppressing bond yields to prevent interest costs on the debt pile from becoming unmanageable.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 July 2026

Definition of unmanageable

Adjective

Her music accordingly pares down the signature elements of a genre in which reckless abandon and defiant self-expression have long been central.

— Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026
The streak did not continue in 2025, but the season turned out to be a more defiant refutation of the caution against rookie tight ends.

— John Riker, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Definition of defiant

Adjective

Part of the problem is that, outside of their tenants’ pleas, landlords face neither any real pressure nor any legal requirement to install shutters and ceiling fans; even owners who want to do so are thwarted by recalcitrant co-op boards or finicky historic-preservation reviews.

— Henry Grabar, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026
The patron saint of the 2024 Democratic National Convention was Fannie Lou Hamer—recalcitrant sharecropper turned agitator and, like the Democratic presidential nominee, a black woman.

— Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026

Definition of recalcitrant

Adjective

An unhappy passenger took to Reddit recently to express dismay about a one-hour flight delay because of an uncontrollable toddler on a flight in Sweden.

— Perri Ormont Blumberg, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
Today, these dire warnings have become a stark reality, as Europe and the US grapple with punishing heatwaves and uncontrollable wildfires.

— Adam Frank, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of uncontrollable

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“Intractable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intractable. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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