Synonyms for intractable
- adjective
All synonyms
Adjective
obstinate, refractory, stubborn, unmanageable, intransigent, unyielding, difficult, perverse, obdurate, inflexible, obstreperous, tough, uncontrollable, ungovernable, cantankerous, dogged, unruly, ornery, headstrong, adamantine, immovable, restive, wayward, untoward, contrary, mulish, contumacious, pertinacious, unmalleable, indocile, recalcitrant, hard-headed, pig-headed, truculent, fractious, unbending, balky, stiff-necked, grim, self-willed, rigid, willful US, wilful UK, insubordinate, rebellious
Definitions
- adj. 1
Not tractable; not able to be managed, controlled, governed or directed.
Related words
- Word family
- intractability intractableness
Choose the right word
The petulant person frets, but may comply; the perverse individual may be smooth or silent, but is wilfully intractable.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- stubborn I'm not stubborn; i'm just always right, thats it.
- refractory Tom's refractory period is too long.
- obstinate I've heard that Tom and Mary are quite obstinate.
- unmanageable They were unmanageable pupils.
- difficult Explain to him the difficult situation you are in.
- perverse Layla was victim to Sami's every perverse whim.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| intractable | rising | |
| stubborn | rising | |
| refractory | falling | |
| obstinate | steady | |
| unmanageable | steady | |
| difficult | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- grim1
- 5 letters
- tough1, rigid2, balky2
- 6 letters
- unruly3, dogged1, wilful, ornery3, mulish
- 7 letters
- wayward2, willful2, restive2
- 8 letters
- contrary3, stubborn2, perverse2, untoward3, obdurate3, indocile
- 9 letters
- difficult3, immovable4, obstinate3, fractious2, unbending3, truculent3
- 10 letters
- rebellious3, refractory4, inflexible4, unyielding3, headstrong2, adamantine
- 11 letters
- unmalleable
- 12 letters
- unmanageable5, recalcitrant4, intransigent4, ungovernable5, cantankerous4, obstreperous4, contumacious, pertinacious
- 13 letters
- insubordinate5
- 14 letters
- uncontrollable5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (rigid2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- intraitable