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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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intransigent

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

'intransigent' is correct and usable in written English.
It means 'refusing to change one's views or to agree about something'. For example, 'The intransigent politician refused to compromise even when the issue was of great importance for the country.'.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In such a context, that the Paisleyites did not win more decisively last week was a comment on the profound distrust of vast layers of Northern Irish Protestant society for the intransigent and self-righteous politicians of the DUP.

News & Media

The Guardian

An appeal to the European court of human rights, where the author's intransigent stance on freedom of speech would most likely have been upheld, will not be an option: De Luca has already declared that he will not appeal the sentence.

"The lack of an agreement so far is not due to the supposed intransigent, uncompromising and incomprehensible Greek stance," he wrote.

Meanwhile it has emerged that members of the local community have written to senior civil servants at the MoD about the "capricious and intransigent manner" in which they handled the closure of the barracks before reopening it to house the Libyans.

News & Media

The Guardian

In his Today show appearance, Cruz rejected the notion that he was an intransigent extremist whose unbending positions in the Senate had made him an enemy of compromise – the most glaring evidence of which, his critics say, being the partial shutdown of the federal government he helped precipitate in October 2013 with a profoundly feckless attempt to block the president's healthcare law.

News & Media

The Guardian

She was up against the most intransigent, ruthless Opposition imaginable.

News & Media

The Guardian

Steny Hoyer, the number two in the Democratic hierarchy in the House, said this week that his party should not undermine negotiations by ruling out benefit cuts on principle.Perhaps the best reason to suppose that Democrats may be less intransigent than they appear on entitlements, however, is that it is not their focus in the negotiations.

News & Media

The Economist

Bosnia won the deal only after its intransigent leaders wore down their EU partners into accepting a watered-down version of reform for Bosnia's police.Miroslav Lajcak, the international pro-consul in Bosnia, argues that most of its 3.8m people now put jobs and prosperity above the old national questions.

News & Media

The Economist

After two decades as the Turkish-Cypriots' wily chief spokesman and most intransigent "negotiator" he declared, in November 1983, unilateral independence, and ruled as a one-man show for the next 22 years.Although he formally accepted the idea of a loose federation, a two-state settlement was his overwhelming desire.

News & Media

The Economist

But as the homeless become fewer and more intransigent, eradication seems less realistic.

News & Media

The Economist

He can claim that, thanks to the forceful use of his powers (sacking intransigent elected officials, for example), he has led Bosnia "from Dayton to Brussels" (see article).Foreigners are more impressed than the Bosnians themselves with all this.

News & Media

The Economist
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "intransigent" with specific nouns to show what is unyielding. For example, "intransigent position", "intransigent stance", "intransigent demands".

Common error

Avoid using "intransigent" when a more neutral term like "firm" or "determined" would be more appropriate. "Intransigent" often carries a negative connotation, suggesting an unreasonable refusal to compromise, so ensure this negative implication aligns with your intended message.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "intransigent" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe someone or something unwilling to compromise or change their position. As shown by Ludwig, it often precedes nouns like "stance", "leaders", and "politicians".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intransigent" functions primarily as an adjective used to describe an unwillingness to compromise. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, especially in news and media contexts. When using the term, ensure the negative connotation aligns with your intended message, as it suggests an unreasonable refusal to compromise. While alternatives like "uncompromising" and "obstinate" exist, "intransigent" carries a unique emphasis on the detrimental impact of this inflexibility. Therefore, as evidenced by the examples provided by Ludwig, choosing "intransigent" over other similar words is a way to denote not only the degree of inflexibility but also signal the impact that this "inflexibility" has on negotiations.

FAQs

How can I use "intransigent" in a sentence?

Use "intransigent" to describe someone or something unwilling to compromise or change their position, such as, "The negotiator found the opposing side to be "intransigent" on key issues."

What are some alternatives to "intransigent"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "uncompromising", "obstinate", or "inflexible" to convey a similar meaning.

When is it appropriate to use "intransigent"?

"Intransigent" is appropriate when you want to emphasize a negative unwillingness to compromise, particularly when this inflexibility is seen as unreasonable or detrimental to progress.

What's the difference between "intransigent" and "stubborn"?

"Stubborn" generally implies a firm and unwavering attitude, while "intransigent" suggests a more extreme and unreasonable refusal to compromise, making it a more negative term.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: