Intransigent: meaning and SAT practice

Intransigent (adjective) means: Unwilling to compromise or change one's position on something.

Intransigent in a sentence

The intransigent student refused to consider any viewpoint other than his own.

Similar: stubborn, inflexible, rigid, obstinate. Opposite: flexible, compromising.

SAT-style practice: what does “intransigent” most nearly mean?

The intransigent student refused to consider any viewpoint other than his own.

As used in the sentence, “intransigent” most nearly means

  1. obedient
  2. stubborn
  3. favorable
  4. unruly
Show the answer

Answer: B. “intransigent” means: Unwilling to compromise or change one's position on something. “stubborn” is the closest match in this sentence. The other choices are real SAT-level words, but none of them carries that meaning here.

On the digital SAT this is the “Words in Context” skill, about 7 of the 54 Reading and Writing questions. The test asks what a word means as used in the passage, so a word’s most common meaning is not always the answer. More of these, with full explanations, are on SAT Words in Context practice questions.

  • contumacious: Stubbornly resisting authority or refusing to obey.
  • implacable: Unable to be calmed down or made less angry and determined.
  • incorrigible: Someone who cannot be corrected or reformed despite efforts.
  • intractable: Difficult to manage, control, or solve despite efforts.
  • obdurate: Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.
  • obstinate: Stubbornly refusing to change opinion or course.

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