different between wilful vs intractable

English

Alternative forms

• willful (American)
• wilfull (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English wilful; equivalent to will +? -ful.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?w?lf?l/, /?w?lf?l/
• Hyphenation: wil?ful

Adjective

wilful (comparative more wilful or wilfuller, superlative most wilful or wilfullest) (British spelling)

1. Intentional; deliberate.

   Synonyms: volitional, voluntary

2. Stubborn and determined.

   Synonyms: obstinate, self-willed, headstrong, spiteful

Derived terms

• unwilful (UK), unwillful (US)
• wilfully (UK), willfully (US)
• wilfulness (UK), willfulness (US)
• wilful blindness (UK), willful blindness (US)
• wilful ignorance (UK), willful ignorance (US)

Translations

English

Etymology

From in- +? tractable

Adjective

intractable (comparative more intractable, superlative most intractable)

1. Not tractable; not able to be managed, controlled, governed or directed.
2. (mathematics) (of a mathematical problem) Not able to be solved.
3. (of a problem) Difficult to deal with, solve, or manage.
4. (of a person) Stubborn; obstinate.
5. (medicine) Difficult to treat (of a medical condition).

Derived terms

• intractability
• intractableness
• intractably

Translations

References

• intractable in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• intractable in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.