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intractable
/ɪnˈtræktəbəl/
hard to control or deal with
The intractable problem of climate change requires global cooperation.
A problem that is difficult to manage or solve despite efforts.
formal
Difficult to manage, control, or deal with; stubborn or unruly.
Doctors struggled to treat the patient's intractable pain.
Pain that is difficult to relieve or manage.
The committee faced intractable disagreements over policy.
Disagreements that were hard to resolve or compromise on.
Often used for problems, pain, or people that resist solutions or authority.
Collocations
intractable problema problem that is hard to solveintractable painpain that is difficult to treatintractable conflicta conflict that is hard to resolve
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'intractable'
Reserve this word for serious or technical contexts. In casual speech, simpler terms like 'difficult' or 'hard' are more natural.
Gold Rule
Use 'intractable' for systemic issues
This word implies a deep-rooted problem that resists change, not just a temporary challenge. Example: 'intractable poverty' vs. 'a tough week'.
Word Origin
From Latin *intractabilis*, meaning 'not to be handled' (*in-* 'not' + *tractabilis* 'manageable', from *tractare* 'to handle').
Usage Notes
Commonly used in medical, psychological, and social contexts to describe persistent issues. Avoid using for people in a negative sense; prefer 'stubborn' or 'difficult' instead.
Word Breakdown
in-
not
prefixtract-
to handle or manage
root-able
capable of being
suffixEnglish Dictionary