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intractable

 - 5 dictionary results

in⋅trac⋅ta⋅ble

  [in-trak-tuh-buhl]
Use intractable in a Sentence
–adjective
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 intractable metal.
3. hard to treat, relieve, or cure: the intractable pain in his leg.
–noun
4. an intractable person.
Origin:
1535–45; < L intractābilis. See in- 3 , tractable

Related forms:
in⋅trac⋅ta⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, in⋅trac⋅ta⋅ble⋅ness, noun
in⋅trac⋅ta⋅bly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. perverse, headstrong, dogged, obdurate, stony, willful, froward. 1, 2. fractious, refractory, unbending, inflexible, adamant, unyielding. See unruly.

Antonyms:
1. amiable. 1, 2. amenable, flexible.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To intractable
in·trac·ta·ble   (ĭn-trāk'tə-bəl)   
adj.  

  1. Difficult to manage or govern; stubborn. See Synonyms at unruly.

  2. Difficult to mold or manipulate: intractable materials.

  3. Difficult to alleviate, remedy, or cure: intractable pain.

in·trac'ta·bil'i·ty, in·trac'ta·ble·ness n., in·trac'ta·bly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

intractable 
1545, from L. intractabilis "not to be handled," from in- "not" + tractabilis (see tractable).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: in·trac·ta·ble
Pronunciation: (')in-'trak-t&-b&l
Function: adjective
1 : not easily managed or controlled(as by antibiotics or psychotherapy) intractable child> intractable Proteus and Pseudomonas species of bacteria —Annual ReportPfizer>
2 : not easily relieved or cured <intractable pain> <intractable bleeding in duodenal ulcer —Journal of the American MedicalAssociation> —in·trac·ta·bil·i·ty /(")in-"trak-t&-'bil-&t-E/ noun plural -ties
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

intractable in·trac·ta·ble (ĭn-trāk'tə-bəl)
adj.

  1. Difficult to manage or govern; stubborn.

  2. Difficult to alleviate, remedy, or cure.

in·trac'ta·bil'i·ty n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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