intractable
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Definition
Meaning
Very difficult or impossible to control, manage, or solve.
Refers to a person, problem, material, or disease that is stubborn, uncooperative, resistant to guidance, or extremely hard to treat, manipulate, or resolve.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a high degree of difficulty and resistance, often suggesting a frustrating or hopeless situation. Can describe both abstract problems (e.g., conflicts) and concrete entities (e.g., materials, individuals).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more common in formal British academic/professional writing. In American contexts, often used in technical fields (engineering, computing, medicine).
Frequency
Low-frequency in casual speech in both varieties. More likely encountered in professional, academic, or news contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be/become/seem] intractable[find/consider/deem] something intractableintractable [problem/conflict/pain]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to be/remain] at an intractable impasse”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The intractable supply chain issues forced a complete redesign of our logistics.'
Academic
'The paper addresses the intractable philosophical problem of consciousness.'
Everyday
'My neighbour's intractable dog barks constantly, despite all training attempts.'
Technical
'The researchers encountered intractable computational complexity in the model.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The intractable negotiating stance of the union led to a prolonged strike.
- She was known for her intractable opposition to the proposed development.
American English
- The patient's intractable back pain required a surgical consult.
- The senator faced an intractable divide within her own party.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The child was being intractable and refused to put his toys away.
- It was an intractable puzzle that nobody could solve.
- After years of intractable conflict, a fragile peace agreement was finally signed.
- The engineer struggled with the intractable properties of the new alloy.
- The committee found itself in an intractable deadlock over the budget allocation.
- His intractable migraines were resistant to all conventional pharmaceutical treatments.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: IN (not) + TRACTABLE (like 'tractable' meaning manageable). If a tractor can't pull it (tract-), it's INTRACTABLE.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PROBLEM IS A KNOT / A SOLID OBJECT (an intractable knot, an intractable wall of resistance).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from 'неприступный' (inaccessible) or 'непреодолимый' (insurmountable). Focus on stubborn resistance rather than physical impossibility.
- Do not confuse with 'неконтролируемый' (uncontrollable in a wild, chaotic sense). 'Intractable' implies stubborn, persistent resistance.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'intractible' (incorrect). Correct: 'intractable'.
- Using for temporary difficulties: 'The intractable traffic jam' is overstated; use 'bad' or 'severe'.
- Confusing with 'intact' or 'untrackable'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'intractable' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is commonly used for problems, conflicts, diseases, pain, and materials that are extremely hard to solve, resolve, treat, or work with.
'Stubborn' is more general and personal, often for people/animals refusing to change. 'Intractable' is more formal and severe, implying a near-impossible level of difficulty or resistance, applicable to both people and abstract things.
Rarely. It almost always describes a negative, frustrating situation. In specific technical contexts, it might neutrally describe a property (e.g., 'an intractable mathematical problem'), but the connotation remains one of extreme difficulty.
The primary noun is 'intractability' (e.g., 'the intractability of the issue'). Less commonly, 'intractableness' is also correct.
Collections
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Precise Descriptive Language
C2 · 17 words · Highly precise adjectives and descriptors.
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