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Synonym Chooser

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 The decades-old conflict in the Middle East has been one of the most intractable in the world. Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025 The bottom line: Plastic waste continues to be an intractable problem, but some startups are developing new tech to help. Katie Fehrenbacher, Axios, 20 Feb. 2025 The overwhelming majority are for people with terminal illnesses, mostly cancer, with a smaller number for people who have other nonterminal conditions that cause acute suffering — such as neurodegenerative disease or intractable depression. Stephanie Nolen, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025 But there’s nothing admirable about tossing off absurd and impossible solutions to intractable dilemmas. Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for intractable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intractable
Adjective
  • On Wednesday, March 12, The Kardashians star was joined by her mother Kris Jenner for the latest episode of her Khloé in Wonderland podcast, where the two looked back at some of Khloé's rebellious childhood moments.
    Esther Kang, People.com, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Mickey, tasked with keeping her rebellious sister in line, never had the opportunity to be a kid.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • One daughter, loving but stubborn, leaves for Vilna to study nursing.
    Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025
  • The true top is still stubborn, though: In 2023 women made up just over 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs, 9% of the FTSE CEOs, and 5.4% of CEOs of the S&P Global Broad Market Index.
    Kweilin Ellingrud, TIME, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The attacks started this week after reports emerged that Assad loyalists had ambushed and killed members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – the rebel group that spearheaded the rebellion that ousted the former Syrian leader.
    Mostafa Salem, CNN, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The singer and the songwriter traversed the frontlines of the urban guerrilla war that had consumed the city of Homs by that point, with one half of the city overtaken by regime soldiers and the other half controlled by rebel groups.
    Jawad Rizkallah, NPR, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • National parks and forests lost essential personnel with many crews cut down to half, leaving critical tasks unmanageable.
    Dua Anjum, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Pompidou president Laurent Le Bon has rejected that idea as unmanageable.
    Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Their bleeding champion — at the time a former and future president — raises a defiant fist.
    John Scott Lewinski, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Mar. 2025
  • After being yelled at, children often feel defiant, defensive, and disconnected from their parent.
    Daryl Austin, Parents, 14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Bismarck had a reputation as a wily man who could potentially bring the recalcitrant Lower House to heel.
    Christine Adams / Made by History, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Still, this initial success against such a recalcitrant tumor has broader implications for using personalized mRNA vaccines to target other common tumors that have so far been resistant to other kinds of immunotherapy, Balachandran says.
    Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Part of this containment strategy is to stop Chinese company transshipments through Canada and Mexico from engaging in willful U.S. tariff evasion.
    Jason Schenker, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Beyond market returns: Time and consistency are essential Given the willful chaos and uncertainty being generated by the Trump administration, there is no telling what the markets and the US economy will do in the foreseeable future.
    Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Joking was her version of uncontrollable tears, but Dr. Fenton neither laughed nor pressed to see what was behind Lilian’s inane laughter.
    Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Separating benefits from employee health also allows businesses to escape uncontrollable, often double-digit, group plan renewals.
    Jack Hooper, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Intractable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intractable. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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