intractable

Intractable — In*tract a*ble, a. [L. intractabilis: cf. F. intraitable, formerly also intractable. See {In } not, and {Tractable}.] Not tractable; not easily governed, managed, or directed; indisposed to be taught, disciplined, or tamed; violent; stubborn;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

intractable — I adjective adamant, balky, beyond control, contrary, contumacious, defiant, difUcilis, disobedient, dogged, firm, froward, headstrong, heedless, incorrigible, indocile, indocilis, indomitable, inflexible, insubordinate, insuppressible,… …   Law dictionary

intractable — c.1500, rough, stormy; 1540s, not manageable, from L. intractabilis not to be handled, unmanageable, from in not, opposite of (see IN (Cf. in ) (1)) + tractabilis (see TRACTABLE (Cf. tractable)). Related: Intractably …   Etymology dictionary

intractable — *unruly, ungovernable, refractory, recalcitrant, willful, headstrong Analogous words: obstreperous, boisterous (see VOCIFEROUS): contumacious, rebellious, factious, *insubordinate: froward, perverse, *contrary, wayward, balky Antonyms: tractable… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

intractable — ► ADJECTIVE 1) hard to solve or deal with. 2) stubborn. DERIVATIVES intractability noun intractably adverb …   English terms dictionary

intractable — [in trak′tə bəl] adj. [L intractabilis] not tractable; specif., a) hard to manage; unruly or stubborn b) hard to work, manipulate, cure, treat, etc. intractability n. intractableness intractably adv …   English World dictionary

Intractable — Unstoppable. For example, intractable diarrhea or intractable pain. * * * 1. SYN: refractory (1). 2. SYN: obstinate (1). [L. in tractabilis, fr. in neg. + tracto, to draw, haul] * * * in·trac·ta·ble ( )in trak tə bəl adj 1) not easily managed or… …   Medical dictionary

intractable — intractability, intractableness, n. intractably, adv. /in trak teuh beuhl/, adj. 1. not easily controlled or directed; not docile or manageable; stubborn; obstinate: an intractable disposition. 2. (of things) hard to shape or work with: an… …   Universalium

intractable — [[t]ɪntræ̱ktəb(ə)l[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n Intractable people are very difficult to control or influence. [FORMAL] What may be done to reduce the influence of intractable opponents? 2) ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n Intractable problems or… …   English dictionary

intractable — adjective Etymology: Latin intractabilis, from in + tractabilis tractable Date: 1531 1. not easily governed, managed, or directed < intractable problems > 2. not easily manipulated or wrought < intractable metal > 3. not easily relieved or cured… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

intractable — adjective formal 1 an intractable problem is very difficult to deal with or find an answer to: the seemingly intractable problem of human greed 2 having a strong will and difficult to control: They found the islanders intractable, resisting their …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English