intransigent

What does “intransigent” mean?

adjective.unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something.

SAT Usage

intransigent is often found in passages discussing conflict, negotiation, or ideological debates. It emphasizes a steadfast refusal to compromise, highlighting a character's rigidity or obstinacy in their beliefs, which sets it apart from similar terms like "stubborn," as it implies a stronger, often ideological resistance to change rather than mere obstinacy.

Common Confusions

Intransigent implies a steadfast refusal to change one's beliefs, while stubborn usually suggests a more general resistance to persuasion without the ideological connotation.

Example Sentences

• Don't waste your time trying to change his mind: he's completely intransigent.

Word Parts: How to Remember “intransigent”

Break “intransigent” into its parts: in- (not) + -trans- (across, beyond). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: in- not (Latin)
• Root: -trans- across, beyond (Latin)