it may be intractable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it may be intractable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a problem or situation that is difficult or impossible to manage or solve. Example: "The issue of climate change is complex, and it may be intractable without significant global cooperation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is a 'baby and bathwater' problem which may prove soluble; I hope it will, but fear it may be intractable.

Bioethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This is unlikely to be possible in most study systems, and even if it were, statistical analysis may be intractable.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

It is known that tandem arrays may be intractable to cloning and propagation [ 16], perhaps explaining this result.

BMC Plant Biology

The seasons may be intractable masters, but Mr. Goldstein, now 71, has come to expect their tyranny.

The New York Times

The practical complexities may be intractable, from the sharing of copyright to the management of competing performance schedules.

The Guardian

If Pakistan's world view were not distorted by India, it might be able to see straight on terror.The soldiers growlSix and a half decades of bloodshed suggest that the problem may be intractable.

The Economist

In defence of this decision, Miss Mulyani has one limp argument that consumers have to get used to fuel prices going both up and down and one unanswerable one that, so close to an election, no one will tackle subsidies.The politics may be intractable, but they are based on a fallacy.

The Economist

Once conviction in the destination falters, companies curb investment and hope turns to fear that the country's problems may be intractable.An optimistic reading of these latest numbers is that they might force India's politicians to move beyond the rancour of recent months and agree a program of reforms that would bolster confidence at home and abroad.

The Economist

As to preservation, though, the problem may be intractable.

BBC

These fine models may be intractable, too complex to solve by existing means.

Journal of Computational Physics

This can be problematic, however, particularly in complex problems where Likelihoods may be intractable.

Environmental Modelling & Software

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using alternative phrases if the level of formality does not align with your writing tone.

Common error

Avoid using "it may be intractable" for everyday problems. This phrase is best suited for complex, deeply rooted issues, not minor inconveniences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it may be intractable" functions as a modal phrase expressing a possibility regarding the nature of something being difficult or impossible to manage or resolve. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it may be intractable" is used to describe problems that are possibly impossible to resolve. It is grammatically correct and commonly found in scientific, news, and business contexts. When writing, consider alternative phrases like "it could be unsolvable" or "it might be unmanageable" for different shades of meaning. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is well-established and serves to underscore the challenging or seemingly hopeless nature of a situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it could be unsolvable

Changes "may be" to "could be", indicating possibility rather than probability, and "intractable" to "unsolvable", focusing on the lack of a solution.

it might be unmanageable

Replaces "may be" with "might be", suggesting a lower degree of certainty, and "intractable" with "unmanageable", focusing on the difficulty of control.

it is possibly insurmountable

Substitutes "may be" with "is possibly" and "intractable" with "insurmountable", emphasizing the apparent impossibility of overcoming the issue.

it is perhaps irremediable

Replaces "may be" with "is perhaps", and "intractable" with "irremediable", highlighting the lack of a cure or remedy.

it appears to be beyond resolution

Alters the structure to "appears to be", suggesting observation, and replaces "intractable" with "beyond resolution", focusing on the absence of a clear solution.

it seems to defy solution

Changes the structure to "seems to defy", indicating resistance to solutions, and replaces "intractable" with "defy solution", implying a challenge.

it presents an unyielding challenge

Restructures to emphasize the challenging nature of the situation, using "unyielding" to replace "intractable" for stronger emphasis.

it poses an insurmountable problem

Focuses on the problem aspect, emphasizing it as "insurmountable" instead of "intractable".

it resists easy solutions

Highlights the resistance to simple answers, differing from the original by focusing on the lack of simple solutions rather than intractability.

it is a tough nut to crack

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey difficulty, focusing on the challenge of solving the problem.

FAQs

What does "it may be intractable" mean?

The phrase "it may be intractable" suggests that a problem or situation is possibly very difficult or impossible to manage, solve, or overcome.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "it may be intractable"?

Use "it may be intractable" when describing deeply rooted, complex issues that seem resistant to solutions or improvements. This phrase is suitable for serious challenges in fields like science, politics, or personal development.

What are some alternatives to "it may be intractable"?

You can use alternatives like "it could be unsolvable", "it might be unmanageable", or "it is possibly insurmountable" depending on the context.

How does "it may be intractable" differ from "it is difficult"?

"It is difficult" implies a challenge that can potentially be overcome. "It may be intractable", on the other hand, suggests the problem is so complex or deeply rooted that finding a solution is unlikely or seemingly impossible.