# intractable

/ˌɪnˈtɹæktəbəɫ/ (US) · /ɪntɹˈæktəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/intractable
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

describing a problem or situation that is very difficult to fix or control. It is often used for things that seem impossible to solve no matter how hard you try.

For teachers: refusing to be controlled, managed, or solved; resistant to treatment or correction. Often describes mathematical problems or medical conditions that defy standard solutions.

## Examples

- The doctors found the infection to be intractable.
- The researchers struggled for years to find a cure for the intractable disease that had plagued the region.
- Mathematicians often classify certain equations as intractable because they lack a general solution that can be applied across all possible variables.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.