uncooperative

adjective

un·​co·​op·​er·​at·​ive ˌən-kō-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv How to pronounce uncooperative (audio)
-ˈä-pə-ˌrā-
: marked by an unwillingness or inability to work with others : not cooperative
the suspect was uncooperative with investigators
an uncooperative witness
… he wonders whether it would be such a bad thing if their uncooperative nanny quit …Caitlin Flanagan
also : providing difficulty
struggled with an uncooperative corkscrew
uncooperative weather

Examples of uncooperative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Due to the stroke, according to the lawsuit, Rhines appeared confused and was unable to follow the orders of officers who accused her of being uncooperative. Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2025 Trump used his social media post to repeat his complaints that Canada has been uncooperative, despite decades of friendship and partnerships that range from World War II to the response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Fabiola Sánchez, Twin Cities, 3 Feb. 2025 According to police, some of the occupants were uncooperative and refused to get out of the car. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2025 In July, Republicans claimed that China was among a list of uncooperative countries refusing to take back those the U.S. wanted to deport. Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for uncooperative 

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of uncooperative was in 1799

Dictionary Entries Near uncooperative

Cite this Entry

“Uncooperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uncooperative. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

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