intractable work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intractable work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe tasks or problems that are difficult to manage or solve, often requiring significant effort or resources. Example: "The team faced intractable work when trying to resolve the longstanding issues in the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I could not afford to lose those bags!" When Williams talked about tennis, she looked a little older than her 25 years; she looked the way competent people do when discussing an intractable work problem, focused and a little bit grave.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Some of the more intractable animation work goes to effects.

The New Yorker

The program book, in fact, listed an earlier version, with the mildly intractable Schoenberg work coming before the lush payoff of the Wagner.

The New York Times - Arts

It was a show about loneliness, self-loathing, and hostility toward both the vexing minutiae (airplane seats, parking spaces, rental-car lines) and the bigger, more intractable conundrums (work, love, marriage, family, death) of modern life.

The New Yorker

(Perhaps the room's intractable acoustics will work in this repertory).

The New York Times - Arts

As the violence in Chicago's poor neighborhoods has grown more intractable, Pfleger's work has carried him deeper into the world of the gangs.

The New Yorker

The mosquito Anopheles funestus is a major vector of malaria throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa, but because it is a relatively intractable species to work with, it has only recently started to receive the scientific attention such an important public health pest deserves.

Plosone

Though many of our claims about musical works may be paraphrasable into claims about sets of possible performances, some seem to make intractable reference to works.

SEP

However, this can be caused by the imposition of tariffs by newly independent countries, civil disruption or war.A new theory is plantedThe intractable difficulties in working out the trade effect from previous currency unions means that previous estimates are fatally flawed.

The Economist

Its problems seemed intractable: poor sanitation, brutal work conditions, malaria.

The New Yorker

He convinces supporters that simple solutions would work and intractable problems linger only because of the "stupidity" of U.S. leaders.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "intractable work", ensure the context clearly establishes the problem's difficulty and persistence. Avoid using it for routine or easily solvable tasks.

Common error

Avoid using "intractable work" for tasks that are merely inconvenient or time-consuming. Reserve it for situations where solutions are genuinely elusive and persistent effort has yielded little progress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intractable work" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "intractable" modifies the noun "work". This describes the nature or quality of the work, indicating it's particularly difficult to deal with or solve, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "intractable work" describes tasks or problems that are exceptionally difficult to solve or manage. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and most frequently used in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. Alternatives include "unyielding task" and "difficult assignment", depending on the nuance required. When using "intractable work", ensure the context justifies the description's intensity, reserving it for truly resistant and complex challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unyielding task

Replaces "intractable" with "unyielding", emphasizing the task's resistance to being easily resolved.

insurmountable work

Substitutes "intractable" with "insurmountable", highlighting the perceived impossibility of overcoming the work's challenges.

tough undertaking

Replaces both words with simpler synonyms, focusing on the challenging nature of the project.

difficult assignment

Uses more common terms to describe the challenging nature of the work.

challenging endeavor

Emphasizes the demanding and stimulating nature of the work.

laborious effort

Focuses on the extensive effort and toil required by the work.

arduous project

Highlights the steep and difficult nature of the project.

complicated task

Simplifies the phrase, focusing on the complexity of the work.

problematic endeavor

Shifts the focus to the problematic nature of the work.

formidable undertaking

Underscores the intimidating and challenging aspect of the project.

FAQs

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

You might say, "The team faced "intractable work" when trying to resolve the longstanding issues in the project."

What are some alternatives to saying "intractable work"?

Consider using phrases like "unyielding task", "insurmountable work", or "difficult assignment" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "intractable work" in a casual conversation?

While grammatically correct, "intractable work" is more suited for formal or professional contexts. Simpler terms might be more appropriate for casual conversations.

What makes a problem qualify as "intractable work"?

A problem qualifies as "intractable work" when it resists solutions despite significant effort and resources, often due to its complexity or deeply rooted nature.