intransigent

/ɪnˈtɹæn.sə.d͡ʒənt/

Group 7Difficulty 2/3

Definition

(adjective)
Unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something
GRE

Example in Context

The intransigent stance adopted by both parties made a negotiated settlement appear increasingly unlikely as the deadline approached.

Synonyms

stubborninflexibleunyielding

Etymology

Not able to come to an agreement — stubborn and unyielding.

  • in- (Latin) — not
  • transigere (Latin) — to come to an agreement

Memory Aid

🚫Sounds like “in transit

A stubborn bus stuck IN TRANSIT, refusing to change routes or agree on a new destination — totally INTRANSIGENT!

Visual Association

🛑A traffic jam where all cars refuse to budge or change lanes, representing stubbornness.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Confusable Pairs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “intransigent” mean on the GRE?

intransigent (adjective) means “Unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something”. The intransigent stance adopted by both parties made a negotiated settlement appear increasingly unlikely as the deadline approached.

How to remember “intransigent” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “intransigent” sounds like “in transit”. A stubborn bus stuck IN TRANSIT, refusing to change routes or agree on a new destination — totally INTRANSIGENT!

What are synonyms for “intransigent”?

Common synonyms: stubborn, inflexible, unyielding.