Intransigent describes someone who refuses to compromise.

What word describes someone who is refusing to compromise?

• A. Obstinate
• B. Intransigent
• C. Accommodating
• D. Flexible

Answer: (B)

The term "intransigent" accurately characterizes someone who is unwilling to compromise, showing a steadfast refusal to change their position or opinions. This word conveys a sense of being rigid and resolute in one’s beliefs or decisions, often leading to conflict or stalemate in discussions or negotiations. Intransigent individuals typically hold firm to their viewpoints and are not easily swayed by opposing arguments or persuasion. On the other hand, while "obstinate" can also refer to someone who is stubborn and resistant to change, it doesn't capture the same degree of unwavering commitment to a stance as "intransigent." Furthermore, "accommodating" and "flexible" indicate a willingness to adapt, negotiate, and make compromises, which is the opposite of refusing to compromise. Thus, "intransigent" is the most fitting choice in this context.

What word describes someone who is refusing to compromise? A small question with a big punch in the world of court reporting and legal dialogue. The answer, in many situations, is intransigent. If you’ve spent time around depositions, pleadings, or the cadence of a courtroom transcript, you know how a single word can carry a lot of weight. Let me explain why intransigent is the precise gear for the move you want to describe when someone won’t bend.

Meet the word that sticks

Intransigent sits somewhere between “unmoving” and “unmoved by argument.” It’s not just stubborn; it signals a principled, unwavering stance. When a party, a witness, or a negotiator refuses to shift their position, we reach for intransigent to convey the firmness without softening the claim with milder words. It says, in one breath, “this is who they are in this moment” and “this is not something they’ll negotiate away.”

Now, contrast that with a few close cousins to see the nuance more clearly. Obstinate is strongly stubborn, yes, but it can sound a little cartoonish or exasperated—like someone digging in because they’re just being difficult. Accommodating and flexible describe the opposite: a willingness to adjust, to find middle ground, to change course. Intransigent, by contrast, marks a stubborn resolve that resists those changes despite arguments or persuasion.

Why this word matters for NCRA’s world

NCRA’s Registered Professional Reporter role centers on accuracy, clarity, and neutrality in communication. The choice of words in a transcript isn’t just about what was said; it’s about how it was said and the posture behind it. When a witness or party is described as intransigent, it signals a strong stance that a reader should understand as a firm position, not a casual refusal to listen. That distinction matters in a transcript, where tone can be inferred from context, but precision is king.

Think of the transcript as a map. You need landmarks that tell you where the terrain changes. The term intransigent acts like a landmark for a moment when a speaker makes a deliberate stand. It helps readers — attorneys, judges, and later readers reviewing the record — grasp the dynamics of the negotiation or dispute without wading through hedging language.

A few friendly distinctions you’ll notice in real-life usage

• Intransigent versus obstinate: Obstinate can imply stubbornness in general, sometimes with a touch of irritation from others. Intransigent focuses the description on a deliberate, persistent stance on a specific issue. It’s less about mood and more about unwavering position.

• Intransigent versus accommodating/flexible: The contrast is clear. Accommodating and flexible cheerfully bend, adjust, and find a path forward. Intransigent keeps the line, often because the stakes are too high, the principle too essential, or the position nonnegotiable in the speaker’s view.

• Nuances in tone: In transcripts, wording matters as much as punctuation. Describing someone as intransigent can cue the reader to expect a stubborn, perhaps blocking, dynamic in the exchange. It’s a cue, not a rule that the person must be described that way every time.

How this word can surface in transcripts or proceedings

You’ll see intransigent pop up in a variety of contexts. Here are a few realistic lines you might encounter, adjusted for tone and flow in a transcript:

• The witness remained intransigent about the timeline, insisting the events occurred on the date they stated.

• Counsel argued for a compromise, but the client’s intransigent position on the confidentiality clause held fast.

• The mediator urged a concession, yet the union representative stayed intransigent on wage terms.

• During the deposition, the executive’s intransigent stance on disclosure created a drawn-out standoff.

Notice how the word places the emphasis on a deliberate position, not merely the stubborn mood of the moment. It preserves the factual rhythm of the scene while conveying the gravity of what’s at stake.

A quick peek under the hood: why “intransigent” fits so well

• Precision: It describes a stance with a particular gravity. It’s more exact than “stubborn” or “unreasonable.”

• Neutral charge: It’s descriptive rather than judgmental in most contexts. That helps a professional transcript stay neutral and accurate.

• Legal and professional cadence: The word has a formal ring that sits comfortably in court reporting and legal writing without sounding archaic.

If you’re ever unsure whether a term is too strong, test it against a couple of questions: Does it imply a deliberate stance on a specific issue? Does it suggest a willingness (or lack thereof) to negotiate? Would it change how a reader interprets the dynamics of the exchange? If the answer is yes to the first two, intransigent is often a good fit.

A few tips for using precise language in professional transcripts

• Align word choice with context: If the speaker’s stance is core to the dispute, intransigent can be a precise descriptor. If you’re describing a temporary impasse or a miscommunication, a softer term may be more appropriate.

• Keep tone in check: In a formal transcript, lean on neutral descriptors. Reserve sharper adjectives for situations where they’re truly warranted.

• Use it to illuminate dynamics, not to color judgments: The goal is clarity, not moral commentary. Let the facts and the surrounding dialogue carry the interpretation.

• Pair with concrete actions when helpful: Sometimes a brief note about what happened as a result of the intransigent stance helps readers understand the consequences. For example, “The intransigent position on the clause led to a cease in negotiations.”

• Consider variation: If you vary language across a long transcript, readers stay engaged and aligned with the unfolding dynamic.

A light tangent that still matters

You know how a good courtroom transcript feels almost cinematic, even when you’re reading it on a screen? The beauty lies in the balance of action, dialogue, and the unsaid. Words like intransigent don’t just describe what a person said; they hint at the energy behind the dialogue. It’s the difference between a back-and-forth that moves forward and a stare-down that wires the room with tension. As a court reporter, you’re not just capturing words; you’re preserving the tempo of the moment, the unspoken decisions that shape outcomes.

Linking back to the broader world of court reporting

In the everyday work of a court reporter, vocabulary acts as a toolkit. You’re constantly picking terms that match the moment: when a party insists on a point, when a timeline is rigid, when a position resists alteration. Intransigent is one of those handy, precise tools that helps you convey stance without injecting bias. It’s the kind of term that earns its keep in a legal record, where every adjective must earn its place through accuracy and relevance.

A gentle reminder for readers with a curiosity about language in law

Language in legal-technical writing isn’t about sounding erudite for its own sake. It’s about building a shared understanding. The moment you read or write a line like “the witness was intransigent on the timeline,” you’re not just logging an opinion; you’re anchoring a facet of the dispute’s reality. And that anchor helps every reader, from seasoned attorneys to new colleagues, stay oriented in the narrative of the case.

Closing thoughts: when a single word carries weight

Words in the field of court reporting aren’t mere decoration. They’re the cast members in a daily drama of roles, motives, and decisions. Intransigent is a word that captures a meaningful stance with precision and dignity, fitting neatly into the professional lexicon of the NCRA and the broader realm of court reporting. It signals a moment where a position is held firm, where change is off the table — at least for now — and where the record needs to reflect that stance clearly and fairly.

If you’re building your own vocabulary toolkit for professional transcription, keep intransigent in your mental shelf. Pair it with its contrasts—obstinate, accommodating, flexible—and you’ll have a quick-reference set that helps you navigate the nuanced, real-world conversations you’ll be documenting. And as you read more transcripts, you’ll start to notice not just what was said, but how the language used to describe it shapes the reader’s sense of the scene.

So, next time you encounter a moment where someone won’t bend, you’ll recognize the exact turn of phrase that does justice to that moment. Intransigent isn’t flashy. It’s precise. And in the careful world of court reporting, that’s exactly the kind of word you want at your side.