intractable

USAGE SUMMARY

"intractable" is correct and usable in written English.
It means a problem or situation that is very difficult or impossible to deal with or solve. Example: The intractable conflict between the two countries could not be resolved through negotiation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Clearly Curtis had had enough of Tate Britain: one might surmise that she found the politics at the Tate to be intractable: after all she had the temerity to be not only a woman, but a Scot.

The Guardian - Arts

6 Naturally there is a lot of disagreement in a partnership, but make certain you're on the same side when battling outside forces: money; unfeeling authority; intractable bureaucracy; strangers who have parked stupidly.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

How are journalists going to make sense of it all: Britain in Europe, the most intractable, counter-intuitive story of our time?

The Guardian

It's always easy to find some aspect of the science that is uncertain, or confusing, and focus on that to the exclusion of the larger picture Q: It sounds like an almost intractable situation.

The Guardian

The ethics that swirl round childbirth can seem so intractable that every case is a moral blind alley.

The Guardian - Opinion

Negotiators from seven nations are due to produce an outline for a settlement for one of the most intractable, dangerous problems facing the world.

The Guardian

There are certainly common trajectories to these cities' woes, and seemingly intractable problems, from post-colonial re-constitution to bloody conflict, corruption to water shortages, lack of health care to disease.

The Guardian

The report notes: "The effective investigation of cases which are the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland has proved a particularly intractable problem in practice because it is so intimately bound up with the much larger question of dealing with the past in a post-conflict society".

The Guardian

He said humanitarianism alone would not solve intractable conflicts and called for an international political solution.

The Guardian

In a further paradox, given the emphasis on the EU's prowess at reconciliation, the current six-month presidency is held by Cyprus, a country whose intractable conflict and partition has defied decades of mediation and has contributed hugely to the freeze in Turkey's negotiations to join the EU.

The Guardian

Based on their book of the same name, the journalists have set out to show people and organisations tackling some of the world's most intractable problems.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing problems with long-standing or deeply rooted causes, use "intractable" to convey the difficulty in finding solutions.

Common error

Avoid using "intractable" for simple or easily solvable issues. Reserve it for situations that are genuinely complex and resistant to solutions.

Linguistic Context

The word "intractable" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something that is difficult or impossible to manage, control, or solve. Ludwig AI supports the common usage of this word in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intractable" is an adjective used to describe problems or situations that are very difficult or impossible to resolve. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. While synonymous with terms like "unyielding" and "unmanageable", it should be reserved for truly complex and persistent issues. Remember, it's best practice to use it when describing deeply rooted causes, but avoid overuse for simple issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unmanageable

Highlights the difficulty in controlling or directing something.

unyielding

Focuses on the firmness and inflexibility of something.

stubborn

Describes resistance to change or influence.

insurmountable

Suggests a barrier that cannot be overcome.

recalcitrant

Indicates a defiant resistance to authority or control.

hopeless

Emphasizes the lack of any positive prospect for resolution.

impassable

Refers to something that cannot be traversed or overcome.

resolute

It's about being firmly determined or unwavering, often in the face of difficulty.

challenging

Indicates difficulty, but with a possibility of success.

complex

Describes something that is complicated and difficult to understand.

FAQs

How can I use "intractable" in a sentence?

Use "intractable" to describe problems that are difficult or impossible to solve, such as, "The negotiations stalled due to the "intractable differences" between the parties."

What are some synonyms for "intractable"?

Alternatives to "intractable" include "unyielding", "unmanageable", and "insurmountable", each emphasizing a different aspect of difficulty.

Is it appropriate to use "intractable" in formal writing?

Yes, "intractable" is suitable for formal writing as it conveys a precise and serious tone when describing particularly challenging problems.

What kind of problems are best described as "intractable"?

"Intractable" is best used for describing problems that have persisted over time and resisted multiple attempts at resolution, like "intractable conflicts" or diseases.