- Today's Word
Intractable
in-TRAK-tuh-buhl
Definition
- (adjective) Difficult to manage, control, or solve; stubborn.
Example
The negotiations became intractable when neither side would compromise.
Fun Fact
Intractability has been studied in psychology and conflict resolution. From difficult personalities to historical conflicts that seem impossible to resolve, the key to dealing with intractable problems often lies in patience, diplomacy, and creativity. Even legendary figures like Winston Churchill were famously intractable, refusing to back down even in dire situations.
(adjective) Failing to act or resist; passive and yielding, especially when action is urgently needed.
The board’s supine response to the mounting crisis — endless meetings, no decisions, no accountability — allowed a manageable problem to become a catastrophic one.
Supine derives from the Latin supinus, meaning “lying face upward” or “thrown backward,” rooted in the same base as sub- (“under”). It entered English in the 15th century with both its literal meaning — lying flat on one’s back — and its figurative sense of moral or intellectual passivity. The physical image is the etymology: a person flat on their back, facing the sky, unable or unwilling to rise and meet what’s coming.