1
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
an intractable child who deliberately does the opposite of whatever he is told
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stubborn
given to resisting control or discipline by others
cats are by nature fairly intractable animals
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of intractable
Fresh off its unqualified diplomatic successes with the Russians, the Iranians, and Hamas’s terrorists and their intermediaries, the Trump administration is reportedly gearing up to resolve another of the world’s seemingly intractable conundrums: North Korea and its nuclear arsenal.
—
Noah Rothman, National Review, 28 Apr. 2025
Overdose deaths in the United States fell by nearly 30,000 last year, the government reported on Wednesday, the strongest sign yet that the country is making progress against one of its deadliest, most intractable public health crises.
—Jan Hoffman, New York Times, 15 May 2025
And that represented a historic decline to an intractable problem.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
The true test will be how Kennedy and his movement deals with much more pressing, and intractable, challenges in the American diet.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intractable
Noah Rothman, National Review, 28 Apr. 2025
Overdose deaths in the United States fell by nearly 30,000 last year, the government reported on Wednesday, the strongest sign yet that the country is making progress against one of its deadliest, most intractable public health crises.
—Jan Hoffman, New York Times, 15 May 2025
And that represented a historic decline to an intractable problem.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
The true test will be how Kennedy and his movement deals with much more pressing, and intractable, challenges in the American diet.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intractable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intractable
Adjective
-
Many historians estimate that at least 15 to 20 percent of the population remained loyal to the crown, some even taking up arms against their rebellious neighbors and fighting alongside the British.—
Greg Daugherty,
Smithsonian Magazine,
4 June 2025
-
Inspired by 1953’s The Wild One starring Marlon Brando, the song and video captures the rebellious spirit of the cult classic, with scenes of a motorcycle being driven on an open road and birds in flight.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Still, the stubborn media silence continued unabated.—
Nate Rogers,
Vulture,
22 May 2025
-
United needed to play perfect football to unlock a stubborn defence, but struggled to push past competency.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
Here romantic passion combines with revolution in a historical fiction sure to light up readers’ rebel hearts.—
Lorraine Berry,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
-
Then, the detainees were executed, dressed in rebel uniforms, and reported as combat kills with many buried in anonymous graves in cemeteries.—
John Otis,
NPR,
27 May 2025
Adjective
-
In fact, too much change at once becomes unmanageable noise.—
Kathleen Walch,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
-
Freedom Debt Relief offers a five-step program to alleviate unmanageable debt without charging sign-up fees.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
Bowser’s shifting response on immigration matters is one of a number of ways the mayor, a leading figure in the Democratic resistance during Trump’s first term, is now striking a less defiant tone.—
Catherine E. Shoichet,
CNN Money,
28 May 2025
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Moxley took out Nightingale to massive heat, and Omega hit a snap-dragon suplex on a defiant Marina Shafir.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Adjective
-
In response, these recalcitrant members of Congress simply refused to adopt must-pass federal reapportionment legislation.—
Made by History,
Time,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Among Congressional Republicans, Paul has been more recalcitrant than most.—
Eric Cortellessa,
TIME,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Grading for equity amounts to willful and moralized deception, including self-deception.—
The Editors,
National Review,
29 May 2025
-
Hur, who was respectful of the aging president, declined to prosecute Joe Biden for his willful retention of classified documents found in Biden’s non-secure home garage.—
Matt Klink,
Oc Register,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
His uncontrollable emotions led to misbehavior at Liberty High School, and Charles was moved to the Department of Youth Services in a residential treatment program to correct his behavior.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
31 May 2025
-
Rap is banned in Iran due to its critical content, its uncontrollable means of distribution, and its direct opposition to the regime’s official values, including the rejection of religious and ideological themes.—
Ali Farahmand,
IndieWire,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Intractable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intractable. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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