Intransigent

Friday, November 14, 2025
Word of the Day

What is Intransigent?

adjective
Unwilling or refusing to change one’s views or to agree about something.

Pronunciation

US pronunciation: /ɪnˈtræn.zɪ.dʒənt/
UK pronunciation: /ɪnˈtræn.zɪ.dʒ(ə)nt/
Slow pronunciation: in-TRAN-zi-jent

Meaning Explained

Intransigent marks principled refusal — admirable or exasperating depending on stakes.

Why This Word?

Chosen to interrogate the costs of purity in coalition work.

Examples of Use

Here's how this word appears in everyday language:

  • An intransigent union refused concessions.
  • Her intransigent ethics earned respect.
  • The committee remained intransigent on deadlines.

Word Origins

Spanish intransigente “uncompromising,” from Latin transigere “to come to terms”

Came into English via political discourse.

First appearance in English: late 19th century

Word Family

Related forms of this word:

  • Noun: intransigence

    Intransigence doomed the summit.

  • Adjective: unyielding

    An unyielding position invites stalemate.

  • Adjective: dogmatic

    Dogmatic insistence blocked nuance.

Around the World

How this word appears in other languages:

  • Spanish: intransigente
  • French: intransigeant
  • German: unversöhnlich / kompromisslos
  • Italian: intransigente
  • Portuguese: intransigente

If you Already Know This Word

If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:

Obdurate

Moral hardness; intransigent is negotiation stance.

Uncompromising

Close synonym; less formal.

Hardline

Political register; intransigent is broader.

Fun Facts

  • “Transact” shares the root transigere with “intransigent.”
  • The word surged in English during 19th-century European politics.

Cultural Usage

  • Coalitions falter when factions become intransigent.
  • Hostage talks stalled over intransigent demands.

Common Mistakes

Not “insurgent”; different root and meaning.

Micro Story

Both sides were intransigent, and the talks collapsed.