Word: intransigent (adjective)

Associations

The word "intransigent" means very stubborn or unwilling to change your opinion or position. It describes someone who refuses to compromise or agree, no matter what.

• Example 1: The two sides were intransigent during the negotiations, so no agreement was reached. (Here, both sides refused to change their demands.)
• Example 2: She was intransigent about her beliefs and would not listen to other points of view. (This means she was very firm and unchanging in her beliefs.)
• Example 3: His intransigent attitude made it hard to work with him on the project. (His stubbornness caused problems.)

A synonym is "stubborn," but "intransigent" often sounds more formal and is used especially in serious discussions or politics. Unlike "stubborn," which can be used for small everyday things, "intransigent" usually refers to strong, firm refusal in important matters.

Substitution

Other words you can use instead of "intransigent" are:

• stubborn (more common, less formal)
• uncompromising (focuses on not making compromises)
• inflexible (focuses on not being able to change)
• obstinate (similar to stubborn but a bit more negative)

Each changes the tone slightly. For example, "uncompromising" emphasizes refusal to negotiate, while "inflexible" can mean not able to change even if you want to.

Deconstruction

The word "intransigent" comes from Latin:

• prefix "in-" means "not"
• root "transigere" means "to come to an agreement" or "to settle" So "intransigent" literally means "not settling" or "not agreeing." This helps understand why it means refusing to change or compromise.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you or someone you know was intransigent? What happened?
• How might being intransigent be good or bad in different situations?
• Can you imagine a situation where being flexible is better than being intransigent? Why?