intransigent
adjective
in·tran·si·gent in-ˈtran(t)-sə-jənt 
-ˈtran-zə
: characterized by refusal to compromise or to abandon an often extreme position or attitude : uncompromising
intransigent in their opposition
an intransigent attitude
intransigent noun
intransigently adverb
Did you know?
Intransigent comes from Spanish intransigente, meaning "uncompromising." Its root is transigir ("to compromise"), which is related to Latin transigere ("to come to an agreement"). The French have a similar verb, transiger, which also means "to compromise." Transigent as an opposite of intransigent has yet to become recognized as an acceptable word in the English language.
Synonyms
- adamant
- adamantine
- bullheaded
- dogged
- hard
- hard-nosed
- hardened
- hardheaded
- headstrong
- immovable
- implacable
- inconvincible
- inflexible
- mulish
- obdurate
- obstinate
- opinionated
- ossified
- pat
- pertinacious
- perverse
- pigheaded
- self-opinionated
- self-willed
- stiff-necked
- stubborn
- unbending
- uncompromising
- unrelenting
- unyielding
- willful
- wilful
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He has remained intransigent in his opposition to the proposal. he has remained intransigent, refusing all suggestions for improvement of the process
Recent Examples on the Web But Trump came to believe the FBI was too intransigent and regularly polled his advisers on whether to fire Wray. 
Anchorage Daily News, 20 Aug. 2022 But Trump came to believe the FBI was too intransigent and regularly polled his advisers on whether to fire Wray. BostonGlobe.com, 20 Aug. 2022 Like writing or making difficult calls to intransigent sources, sharing that first draft never gets easier. Jonathan Levinson, oregonlive, 1 Aug. 2022 Critics see her as an intransigent ideologue whose free-market policies frayed social bonds and gutted the country's industrial communities. Jill Lawless, BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2022 Critics see her as an intransigent ideologue whose free-market policies frayed social bonds and gutted the country's industrial communities. Jill Lawless, ajc, 31 July 2022 As with all family dramas, not to mention sitcoms, that feature an unyielding, intransigent patriarch, Appa’s edicts and values are inevitably challenged. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 14 July 2022 There’s no controlling for shameless, intransigent men, but there urgently need to be more dependable limits over their influence. Holly Thomas, CNN, 12 May 2022 Refusing to accept principled arguments about equal power will paint you as intransigent and may cost you the deal. Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 24 June 2022 See More
Anchorage Daily News, 20 Aug. 2022 But Trump came to believe the FBI was too intransigent and regularly polled his advisers on whether to fire Wray. BostonGlobe.com, 20 Aug. 2022 Like writing or making difficult calls to intransigent sources, sharing that first draft never gets easier. Jonathan Levinson, oregonlive, 1 Aug. 2022 Critics see her as an intransigent ideologue whose free-market policies frayed social bonds and gutted the country's industrial communities. Jill Lawless, BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2022 Critics see her as an intransigent ideologue whose free-market policies frayed social bonds and gutted the country's industrial communities. Jill Lawless, ajc, 31 July 2022 As with all family dramas, not to mention sitcoms, that feature an unyielding, intransigent patriarch, Appa’s edicts and values are inevitably challenged. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 14 July 2022 There’s no controlling for shameless, intransigent men, but there urgently need to be more dependable limits over their influence. Holly Thomas, CNN, 12 May 2022 Refusing to accept principled arguments about equal power will paint you as intransigent and may cost you the deal. Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 24 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Spanish intransigente, from in- + transigente, present participle of transigir to compromise, from Latin transigere to come to an agreement — more at transact
First Known Use
circa 1879, in the meaning defined above
intransigent
adjective
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion he has remained intransigent, refusing all suggestions for improvement of the process Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- stubborn
- adamant
- steadfast
- obdurate
- obstinate
- hardened
- implacable
- uncompromising
- unbending
- mulish
- unyielding
- wilful
- inflexible
- unrelenting
- hardheaded
- pigheaded
- immovable
- pertinacious
- bullheaded
- opinionated
- headstrong
- willful
- obsessive
- ossified
- persistent
- dogged
- adamantine
- perverse
- hard
- stiff-necked
- hard-nosed
- self-willed
- determined
- relentless
- self-opinionated
- strict
- pat
- inconvincible
- tenacious
- wrongheaded
- rigid
- defiant
- intractable
- recalcitrant
- uncooperative
- resolved
- deaf to reason
- cantankerous
- unflinching
- iron
- stern
- hidebound
- wayward
- severe
- inexorable
- contumacious
- insubordinate
- single-minded
- disobedient
- bloody-minded
- unmanageable
- hard-line
- mutinous
- unruly
- firm
- ungovernable
- indomitable
- anal-retentive
- refractory
- contrary
- narrow-minded
- insurgent
- invincible
- inveterate
- hell-bent
- unconquerable
- demanding
- stouthearted
- exacting
- unregenerate
- hard-shelled
- cussed
- confirmed
- froward
- set
- hard-shell
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- acquiescent
- amenable
- agreeable
- compliant
- pliant
- flexible
- pliable
- obedient
- docile
- complying
- submissive
- tractable
- receptive
- yielding
- responsive
- willing
- accepting
- relenting
- placable
- reasonable
- persuadable
- subservient
- temperate
- slavish
- governable
- manageable