Intransigent

adjective; also noun

/ɪnˈtræn.sɪ.dʒənt/

Refusing to compromise or to abandon an extreme position or attitude; unyielding and uncompromising, especially in negotiation or principle.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

When the two sides remained intransigent on the question of sharing river waters, the Union government's role shifted from neutral arbiter to active mediator, underscoring that cooperative federalism cannot function where states treat negotiation as surrender.

Synonyms

uncompromisingobdurateinflexibleunyieldingadamantobstinate

Antonyms

accommodatingflexibleconciliatorycompromising

🌱 Word Family

intransigence (n), intransigency (n), intransigently (adv), transigent (adj)

🔡 Root

Latin transigere = to come to agreement; trans- = across; agere = to drive; in- = not

📜 Etymology

First used in English in 1874, from French intransigeant, from Spanish los intransigentes ("those not coming to agreement", a name for extreme republicans in the 1870s), from in- "not" + Latin transigere "to come to an agreement", from trans- "across, through" + agere "to drive, carry through".

🧠 Memory Hook

In- ('not') + transigent (think 'transact / transaction') = one who will NOT transact, i.e. refuses to make a deal or strike a bargain.

🤝 International Relations 📖 Seen in: India & Its Neighbours — Bilateral Rel...

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