intransigent
or in·tran·si·geant
[in-tran-si-juh nt]
- refusing to agree or compromise; uncompromising; inflexible.
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- a person who refuses to agree or compromise, as in politics.
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Origin of intransigent
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for intransigent
Contemporary Examples
He becomes angry, intransigent, furiously scribbling notes; Chaz meets determination with determination.
If the deal fell through, “ the rest of the world would see Iran as the intransigent ones, not us.”
Secondly, U.S. Secretary of State Kerry has recently pushed the Arab League towards flexing its intransigent position on borders.
And why is it that the Republicans can be so intransigent and Barack Obama gets blamed?
But on the subject of marriage, Motilal was intransigent: his son would have to endure an arranged match.
Historical Examples
Neither Giovanni nor his wife were of the absolutely "intransigent" way of thinking.
Don OrsinoF. Marion Crawford
Thus religion acquires a meaning and a reasonableness that the most intransigent rationalist cannot misunderstand.
The Elementary Forms of the Religious LifeEmile Durkheim
Intransigent, in-tran′si-jent, adj. refusing to come to any understanding, irreconcilable.
The most intransigent of modern revolutionaries might learn a trick or two from this sacred poet.
Visions and RevisionsJohn Cowper Powys
It doesn't bother you, my getting your help and then not protecting you from these intransigent tribesmen?
The BarbariansJohn Sentry
intransigent
- not willing to compromise; obstinately maintaining an attitude
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- an intransigent person, esp in politics
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Word Origin
C19: from Spanish los intransigentes the uncompromising (ones), a name adopted by certain political extremists, from in- 1 + transigir to compromise, from Latin transigere to settle; see transact
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for intransigent
adj.
1881, from French intransigeant, from Spanish los intransigentes, literally "those not coming to agreement," name for extreme republican party in the Spanish Cortes 1873-4, from in- "not" (see in- (1)) + transigente "compromising," from Latin transigentem (nominative transigens), present participle of transigere "come to an agreement, accomplish, to carry through" (see transaction). Acquired its generalized sense in French.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper