uncooperative

adjective

un·​co·​op·​er·​at·​ive ˌən-kō-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv How to pronounce uncooperative (audio)
-ˈä-pə-ˌrā-
Synonyms of uncooperativenext
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Police statements said that Ashlee, 40, was allegedly uncooperative with authorities from early on in the investigation. Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025 Buzzard had been uncooperative during the search and the investigation into Melodee's disappearance, sheriff's officials have said. Dennis Romero, NBC news, 23 Dec. 2025 She was fired from that position in part for creating division between management and unions and being uncooperative with an independent investigator, according to previous reporting from The Las Vegas Review Journal. Mathew Miranda december 17, Sacbee.com, 17 Dec. 2025 The Civilian Office of Police Accountability closed that case because the witness was uncooperative. Darius Johnson, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Uncooperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uncooperative. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

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