Word: incorrigible

Associations

"Incorrigible" describes someone who is unable or unwilling to change their behavior. It often has a negative connotation, implying a persistent bad behavior that cannot be corrected.

• A teacher might say, "Despite many warnings, his incorrigible attitude got him into trouble." This shows someone who does not change despite being told to.
• In a family, a parent may mention, "Her incorrigible ways made it hard for her to keep friends." This indicates that her behavior repeatedly causes issues.
• A movie character might be labeled as "incorrigible" when they continue to break the law without remorse, highlighting a stubborn nature.

The well-known synonym is "unruly," but "incorrigible" suggests a deeper or more entrenched sense of inability to reform, while "unruly" simply denotes disorder or lack of control, often without the implication of hopelessness.

Substitution

You can use words like "unmanageable," "refractory," or "unyielding" as substitutes for "incorrigible."

• "Unmanageable" emphasizes chaos or difficulty in control, while "incorrigible" focuses on unwillingness to improve.
• "Refractory" refers to being stubborn or resistant to authority, but hints at a sense of active rebellion.
• "Unyielding" suggests a firm stance against change, but it can be applied to situations, ideas, or materials, not just behavior.

Deconstruction

The word "incorrigible" can be broken down into:

• Prefix: "in-" meaning "not."
• Root: "corrigible" comes from "correctable" or "able to be changed." So, "incorrigible" literally means "not able to be corrected." The term comes from Latin "corrigere," which means "to correct."

Historically, it has been used to describe individuals (often in a legal or moral sense) who seem beyond the possibility of improvement or reform.

Inquiry

Consider these questions to deepen your understanding:

• Can you think of someone in your life who might be described as incorrigible? What behaviors contribute to this label?
• How do you feel about the idea of being incorrigible? Is there ever a situation where that could be seen as a positive thing?
• Have you encountered a situation where changing someone's incorrigible behavior proved difficult? What strategies were tried?