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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ungovernable differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ungovernable are headstrong, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, unruly, and willful. While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," 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 could headstrong be used to replace ungovernable?

The words headstrong and ungovernable can be used in similar contexts, but headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.

a headstrong young cavalry officer

When can intractable be used instead of ungovernable?

The meanings of intractable and ungovernable largely overlap; however, intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.

intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

In what contexts can recalcitrant take the place of ungovernable?

The words recalcitrant and ungovernable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.

acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

When is refractory a more appropriate choice than ungovernable?

In some situations, the words refractory and ungovernable are roughly equivalent. However, refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.

special schools for refractory children

When is it sensible to use unruly instead of ungovernable?

Although the words unruly and ungovernable have much in common, unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.

unruly children

When would willful be a good substitute for ungovernable?

While in some cases nearly identical to ungovernable, 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 ungovernable In California, the shift toward ungovernable fires in populated places has been under way for several years. Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025 The colonial government’s fear of ungovernable Black people still lingered, however. Sasha C. Wells / Made By History, TIME, 26 Dec. 2024 In its editorial, Automotive News said Stellantis might be ungovernable but was certainly in need of a major overhaul. Neil Winton, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024 But even Jewish-Jewish coalitions have proved ungovernable. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for ungovernable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ungovernable
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • The phenomenon happens after a person repeatedly experiences negative, uncontrollable events.
    Kim Key, PC Magazine, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Each box weighed close to 30 pounds—cumbersome, though not unmanageable for a moderately-strong adult.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • This platform is being applied to biologic therapeutics, cell therapy for oncology and autoimmune diseases, and long-term intractable pain.
    Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2025
  • But where others saw an intractable problem, Jean-François Archambault saw an opportunity.
    Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Afghanistan remains unruly and dangerous and Pakistan is a willing and able partner in facing those threats, including a resurgent Al Qaeda.
    Christopher Shays, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
  • But the consequences of excessive drinking onboard – from unruly behavior to safety risks – can far outweigh the temporary pleasure of a drink.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 3 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ungovernable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungovernable. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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