feel intractable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feel intractable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation or problem that seems difficult or impossible to manage or resolve. Example: "Despite our best efforts, the issues we face continue to feel intractable, leaving us searching for new solutions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Libeskind has figured out how to get beyond the standard box without making spaces that feel intractable; the rooms aren't square, but let's just say that you can put furniture into them a lot more easily than you can install paintings in the museum across the way.

The New Yorker

As much as it might feel intractable now, it's not irredeemable.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Sometimes, when the process feels most intractable and hopeless, a kind of last-ditch clarity appears.

The New Yorker

Alaska, desolate and rugged and intractable, feels like an annex of Clackamas County, and Portland seems a million miles away.

The New Yorker

It is simply one of those intractable situations where nothing will feel right.

The New York Times

We feel powerless in the face of poor health, intractable external demands or our seeming inability to stick to a sensible diet plan.

The Guardian

If Mr. Obama wins a close election on the strength of the country's changing demographics, he may feel a special responsibility to tackle the seemingly intractable problems that a second-term president can more easily address.

The New York Times

The explanation for this observation: Because the sensation of pain seems to be essential to the process of quelling itch, when the ability to feel pain is dampened by morphine and similar drugs, intractable itch may result.

The New York Times - Science

The Trunchbull Sure, the Trunchbull in Matilda is a bitter, intractable, sadistic she-monster who doesn't even feel a shred of fat solidarity with Bruce Bogtrotter (seriously, Trunch?), but can you imagine being the Trunchbull?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She's well onto the fact that Dr Weston is rather too keen to save people, which is what makes him feel so helpless and demoralised in the face of his patients' intractable problems.

The Guardian - Film

The authors of this recommendation feel that this minimal requirement is only sufficient in otherwise medically intractable chronic patients, otherwise a 50% reduction in pain should be acquired.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "feel intractable" to describe situations or problems, not necessarily personal traits. This helps maintain a professional tone.

Common error

Avoid using "feel intractable" to describe a person's character or disposition, as it is more appropriately used to describe complex or unyielding situations. For example, saying "He feels intractable" is less appropriate than "The problem feels intractable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feel intractable" functions as a subjective assessment of a situation or problem. It indicates that something seems impossible to manage or resolve, based on the feeling it evokes. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is correct and found in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "feel intractable" effectively communicates a sense of overwhelming difficulty or the perception of a problem being impossible to solve. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically sound and suitable for use across different contexts, though more frequent in news and media. Alternatives such as "seem insurmountable" or "appear unmanageable" can be used to vary your language. Remember that it best describes situations rather than personal attributes. While the expression isn't overly common, it offers a precise way to convey the feeling of helplessness when facing significant challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seem insurmountable

Emphasizes the problem's apparent lack of solutions, making it seem impossible to overcome.

appear unmanageable

Focuses on the difficulty in controlling or handling the situation.

feel hopeless

Highlights the emotional aspect, suggesting a lack of optimism regarding the situation.

seem impossible to resolve

Directly states the lack of feasible solutions.

appear to be a dead end

Implies that no progress can be made.

feel like an impasse

Suggests that all paths forward are blocked.

seem unsolvable

Highlights the apparent absence of a solution.

feel caught in a bind

Conveys a sense of being trapped with no good options.

appear to have no easy solution

Underlines the complexity and difficulty in finding a straightforward answer.

feel like a losing battle

Emphasizes the likelihood of failure and the futility of continued effort.

FAQs

How can I use "feel intractable" in a sentence?

You can use "feel intractable" to describe situations or problems that seem impossible to resolve. For example, "Despite our best efforts, the issues we face continue to "feel intractable", leaving us searching for new solutions."

What are some alternatives to "feel intractable"?

Alternatives include "seem insurmountable", "appear unmanageable", or "feel hopeless", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say something "feels intractable"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. It is used to describe the feeling that something is difficult or impossible to deal with.

What's the difference between "feel intractable" and "is intractable"?

"Feel intractable" suggests a subjective perception of difficulty, while "is intractable" states an objective, inherent quality of being unmanageable or unsolvable.