Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Intractable
adjective
/ in-TRAK-tuh-bul /
Hard
Meaning
Too difficult to manage, control, or solve; stubbornly resistant to change or resolution
Origin / Etymology
Latin intractabilis — in (not) + tractabilis (manageable)
Synonyms
Stubborn
Obstinate
Unyielding
Unresolvable
Antonyms
Tractable
Manageable
Solvable
Amenable
Example Sentence
"Poverty in backward districts has proven intractable despite decades of targeted schemes, pointing to structural barriers that direct transfers cannot address alone."
🎯 UPSC Usage
Use in Mains when describing persistent policy challenges: 'intractable poverty', 'intractable conflict', 'intractable bureaucratic resistance'. Strong word for essay conclusions where you acknowledge complexity without abandoning hope for solutions. Pair with words like 'structural', 'multi-dimensional', and 'entrenched'.
Relevant Subjects