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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Infrastructure poses an equally intractable challenge.
—
Priya Oberoi, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
The most intractable puzzle, for John, is how to act like a socially confident family man unfazed by the outside world.
—Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
Nevertheless, the delicate balance between health and civil liberties shows how intractable health problems can be.
—Edna Bonhomme, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2025
An important part of the committee’s decision has to do with the way in which an intractable, traumatic, complex, and long-standing conflict is approached through the art of comedy.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intractable
Priya Oberoi, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
The most intractable puzzle, for John, is how to act like a socially confident family man unfazed by the outside world.
—Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
Nevertheless, the delicate balance between health and civil liberties shows how intractable health problems can be.
—Edna Bonhomme, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2025
An important part of the committee’s decision has to do with the way in which an intractable, traumatic, complex, and long-standing conflict is approached through the art of comedy.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intractable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intractable
Adjective
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And if his readership remained informed on his doings, the prince and his supporters didn’t succeed in silencing him and the rest of the rebellious faction.—
Emily Zarevich,
JSTOR Daily,
4 Apr. 2025
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Wearing cowboy boots with shorts is not only a bold stylistic choice but also a practical way to dress for warm weather without giving up the rustic and rebellious touch that the boots bring.—
René Chávez Esparza,
Glamour,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Despite growing consternation and concern expressed by economists and CEOs, Trump administration officials have been stubborn in defending its trade policies.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
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Ocasio-Cortez might have a good shot at cracking that stubborn nut.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In the fresh extended footage shown, DiCaprio’s former yippie Bob is seen negotiating with a difficult underground rebel contact who knows the whereabouts of his daughter (played by Chase Infiniti).—
Nancy Tartaglione,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2025
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President Trump’s military and intelligence leaders inadvertently shared classified military information on a Houthi rebel attack with a magazine editor which was published online.—
Rick Pozniak,
Boston Herald,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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These expenses, which lead to unmanageable debt, can include medical emergencies, natural disasters, and car repairs.—
Víctor Rosario,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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The federal government, with its millions of employees, has ballooned into an unmanageable monstrosity, consuming trillions of taxpayer dollars while failing at even the most basic functions.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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More: China defiant, accuses Trump of 'blackmail' over 104% tariff threat: Live updates On Monday, Trump described similar negotiations underway with Japan as world leaders try to convince the U.S. president to roll back his new tariffs on all imports.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
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What To Know Trump has remained defiant despite mounting fears of recession and a plunging stock market.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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For recalcitrant teams, Scherzer would also remove the runner who automatically starts each inning after the ninth in scoring position on second base, creating a significant handicap.—
Bruce Schoenfeld Robert Fass Tanya Pérez Brian St. Pierre,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
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Milla — a young woman who feels disillusioned by doctors that treat her like a recalcitrant child, directing even conversations about her treatment to her father instead of her — finds false security in quacks selling enemas and juice cleanses.—
Angie Han,
The Hollywood Reporter,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The willful reluctance of Western policymakers to recognize the importance of cognitive warfare carries the risk of irreversible losses in power and influence worldwide, the key factors that determine strategic outcomes in global competition.—
Michael Miklaucic,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2025
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Luckily, her father steered her away from such a willful error.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Common Mental Health Conditions in Men Depression Depression causes disruptive, uncontrollable feelings of sadness and emptiness.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
3 Apr. 2025
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Already, we are haunted by the specters of nuclear warfare and uncontrollable climate change.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Intractable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intractable. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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