intractable
UK: ɪnˈtræk.tə.bəl | US: ɪnˈtræk.tə.bəl
adj. difficult to control, manage, or solve
adj. stubborn or uncooperative
intractable = in<not> + tract<pull, manage> + able<capable of>
- in-: A prefix meaning "not" (from Latin in-).
- tract: Root meaning "to pull, manage" (from Latin tractare, frequentative of trahere "to pull").
- -able: Suffix meaning "capable of" (from Latin -abilis).
Etymology Origin:
The word intractable originates from Latin intractabilis, combining in- (negation) + tractare (to handle or manage). The core idea is of something that "cannot be pulled or managed," reflecting stubbornness or resistance. Over time, it broadened to describe problems or people that are hard to control or solve.
The intractable child refused to follow any instructions.
Climate change poses an intractable challenge for policymakers.
Despite negotiations, the conflict remained intractable.
The math problem was so intractable that even experts struggled.
His intractable attitude made teamwork impossible.