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Intractability - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Intractability refers to the quality of being difficult to manage, control, or solve. It is often used to describe stubborn problems, complex situations, or uncooperative behavior.

intractability

/ɪnˌtræktəˈbɪləti/ /ɪnˌtræktəˈbɪlɪti/

Definition:

The quality of being hard to control, manage, or solve; stubbornness or complexity.

Synonyms:

stubbornness, obstinacy, recalcitrance, unmanageability

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

compliance, tractability

Common Collocations:

inherent intractability, political intractability, economic intractability

Derivatives:

intractable, intractably

Usage Tips:

Use "intractability" to describe problems or people that resist resolution or control due to stubbornness or complexity.

Common Phrases:

the intractability of the issue, face intractability, overcome intractability

Etymology:

Derived from Latin *intractabilis*, meaning "unmanageable," combining *in-* (not) and *tractare* (to handle).

Examples:

  • 1. The team struggled with the intractability of the software bug.
  • 2. Her intractability made negotiations nearly impossible.
  • 3. The project's intractability delayed its completion for months.
  • 4. Scientists faced the intractability of the disease's spread.

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