intractable
Difficult or impossible to manage, resolve, or control
Examples
In a meeting
“The dispute over intellectual property has proven intractable despite months of mediation.”
Over coffee
“My toddler's bedtime routine has become intractable.”
Why this word
stubborn
intractable means difficult or impossible to manage or solve, while stubborn refers only to willful resistance
difficult
intractable suggests resistance to all attempts at resolution, while difficult simply means hard
unmanageable
intractable emphasizes refusal to be controlled or solved, while unmanageable broadly means hard to handle
Usage tip
Use for problems that resist all attempts at solution. Suggests stubbornness or fundamental difficulty, not just temporary challenges.
Etymology
Latin 'intractabilis' (not manageable), from 'in-' (not) + 'tractare' (handle, manage)
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Related words
contradict
To state the opposite or deny the truth of something
hinder
To create difficulties that slow progress or prevent success
pushback
Resistance or objection to an idea or plan
roadblock
An obstacle that prevents progress
thwart
To prevent someone from accomplishing something; to block or defeat
intricate
Having many complex, interrelated parts or details; complicated