|
|
- pronunciation:
- ihn
traek
t
bl
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective), Word Parts
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
not easily controlled, managed, or persuaded.
His niece was the only person who had any influence on that intractable old man.- antonyms:
- malleable, tractable
- similar words:
- contumacious, difficult, hardheaded, hopeless, mulish, problem, recalcitrant, wild
|
| definition 2: |
not easily shaped, manipulated, or solved.
This hard, brittle metal is intractable until heated.No amount of diplomatic ingenuity will resolve the intractable conflict between these two countries.- antonyms:
- malleable, tractable
- similar words:
- recalcitrant
|
| definition 3: |
not easily treated, relieved, or cured.
These drugs will only temporarily suppress an intractable cough. |
| related words: |
contrary, defiant, hopeless, impenetrable, impossible, inflexible, lawless, obdurate, obstinate, stubborn, tough, unbending, wayward, willful |
adverb + (adj.)intractable
apparently, equally, increasingly, largely, more, most, otherwise, perhaps, previously, seemingly
(adj.)intractable
+ noun
challenge,
conflict,
contradiction,
difficulty,
dilemma,
disagreement,
disease,
dispute,
feud,
foe,
hypotension,
ill,
illness,
issue,
nature,
obstacle,
pain,
poverty,
problem,
race,
reality,
situation,
struggle,
tinnitus,
underclass,
vertigo
[See all][See only the most frequent]
|
| derivations: |
intractably (adv.), intractability (n.), intractableness (n.) |
The word intractable
contains the following parts:
in-2
Latin
prefix
that means not, without
  More about this word part:
The prefix in-2 occurs in Latin loanwords and attaches to Latinate bases. The bases of most words prefixed with in-2 are independent
adjectives ( inadvertent
, incognizant
), although the base adjective may no longer be in widespread use (as with incessant
). Exceptions include iniquitous
and indignant
. -in 2 has multiple forms, as the 'n' sound in in-2 assimilates to the initial sound of the base to which it is attached. See the assimilated forms ig-, il-2, im-2, and ir-2.
Example words:
inaccurate, inadvertent, inalienable, inanimate, inappropriate, inapt, inarticulate, inaudible, inauspicious, incapable, incessant, incest, incognito, incognizant, incommensurate, incommodious, incompetent, incomplete, incomprehensible, inconceivable, inconclusive, incongruous, inconsiderate, inconsonant, inconspicuous, inconvenient, incorporeal, incorrect, incorrigible, incorrupt, incredible, incredulous, incurable, indecorous, indefeasible, indefinite, indelible, indemnify, independence, independent, indescribable, indestructible, indignant, indirect, indispose, indistinct, individual, indivisible, indolent, indomitable, indubitable, inedible, ineffable, inefficient, ineluctable, inept, inequality, inequity, ineradicable, inert, inevitable, inexorable, inexpensive, inexpiable, inexplicable, infallible, infamous, infelicitous, infidel, infidelity, infinite, infinitesimal, infirmity, informal, infrequent, inimical, inimitable, iniquitous, iniquity, injure, injury, innocuous, innominate, inordinate, insane, insatiable, inscrutable, inseparable, insipid, insolent, insomnia, insouciant, insuperable, intangible, interminable, intractable, intransigent, intransitive, intrepid, invaluable, inveracity, invincible, invisible, irregular
tract
Latin
root
that means draw, pull
Example words:
abstract, attract, attraction, attractive, contract, detract, detractor, distract, distraction, extract, intractable, protract, protractor, retract, subtract, subtraction, tract, tractable, traction, tractor
-able, -ible, -ble
Latin
adjective-forming suffix
that means capable of being, doing, or undergoing
More about this word part:
The suffix -able
, and its variants, is attached to Latin verb roots or English transitive verbs to form adjectives. (In a small set of cases, -able
is attached to a noun, e.g. knowledgeable and marriageable.) For spelling purposes, it is useful to know that -able
is more likely to be added to a whole English word (comparable
, adorable
), while -ible
is more likely to follow a bound root (visible
, legible
). However,there are still many words which combine a root with -able
(capable
, inevitable
). The suffix -ity can be added to any adjective ending in -able
, -ible
, -ble
to produce a corresponding noun ending in -ability, -ibility, -bility (possible
+ -ity > possibility; irrevocable
+ -ity > irrevocability.)
Example words:
acceptable, accessible, admissible, adorable, amiable, amicable, audible, avoidable, believable, bearable, biodegradable, capable, calculable, cognizable, comparable, compatible, comprehensible, conformable, conversable, convertible, corrigible, credible, creditable, curable, dependable, despicable, disagreeable, disposable, divisible, eligible, explicable, flammable, flexible, illegible, illimitable, imaginable, immiscible, immovable, immutable, impalpable, impassable, impeccable, impermeable, impermissible, imperturbable, implacable, implausible, imponderable, impossible, impregnable, inalienable, inaudible, incapable, incalculable, incommunicable, incomprehensible, inconceivable, detectable, conceivable, incorrigible, incredible, incurable, indefeasible, indelible, indescribable, indestructible, indivisible, indomitable, ineligible, ineluctable, ineradicable, inescapable, inevitable, inexorable, inexpiable, inexplicable, infallible, inhospitable, inimitable, inscrutable, inseparable, insuperable, intangible, interminable, intractable, invaluable, invariable, invincible, invisible, irrefragable, irrefutable, irremissible, irreparable, irreversible, irrevocable, legible, likable, lovable, manageable, measurable, movable, navigable, notable, opposable, palpable, perishable, permissible, placable, portable, possible, potable, predictable, preferable, prescriptible, recognizable, remissible, reprehensible, reversible, risible, semipermeable, sensible, superable, susceptible, tangible, tenable, tolerable, tractable, transmissible, unsupportable, usable, viable, visible, washable, affordable, allowable, reliable, remarkable, approachable, disputable, drinkable, durable, eatable, renewable, sustainable, unshakable
|