intractable

What does “intractable” mean?

adjective.hard to control or deal with.

SAT Usage

this term often appears in passages related to complex problems, social issues, or medical conditions, emphasizing the persistent difficulty of finding solutions. It conveys a sense of stubbornness or resistance, suggesting that the subject in question is not only challenging but also recalcitrant, contrasting with similar words like "difficult" which lack the same implication of underlying obstinacy.

Common Confusions

Intractable implies a stubborn resistance to change, while difficult usually suggests a challenging situation that may still be manageable with effort.

Example Sentences

• The problem proved intractable despite years of effort.

Word Parts: How to Remember “intractable”

Break “intractable” into its parts: in- (not) + -tract- (pull, drag). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: in- not (Latin)
• Root: -tract- pull, drag (Latin)