as in stubborn
not willing to do what someone wants or asks for; not cooperative
uncooperative children an uncooperative witness
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Recent Examples of uncooperative
Police tried to talk to the woman, who was uncooperative and had fresh scratch marks on her left shin and right upper back, records state.
—
Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Several witnesses on scene were uncooperative and gave limited testimony, police said.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 June 2025
The Trump administration says the U.S. cannot appropriately vet visa applicants in countries with uncooperative governments or underdeveloped security systems.
—Charles Kurzman, The Conversation, 5 June 2025
After the fight, Caputo continued to be uncooperative, according to the report, including with the EMT who checked her injuries.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for uncooperative
Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Several witnesses on scene were uncooperative and gave limited testimony, police said.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 June 2025
The Trump administration says the U.S. cannot appropriately vet visa applicants in countries with uncooperative governments or underdeveloped security systems.
—Charles Kurzman, The Conversation, 5 June 2025
After the fight, Caputo continued to be uncooperative, according to the report, including with the EMT who checked her injuries.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for uncooperative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uncooperative
Adjective
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Beneath its surface were deep, dark scars—grooves cut through the rock by old lava flows, now overgrown with stubborn green.—
Tess Moormans,
Travel + Leisure,
27 July 2025
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The fizzing reaction can help remove stubborn residues.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
27 July 2025
Adjective
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That range depends heavily on whether the infringement is deemed willful.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
29 July 2025
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The filing argued that the defense's choice of an inadequate extraction method, followed by the return of the phone to the driver, who continued to use it like normal, constituted willful destruction of evidence.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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On Monday, asked about the poll proposal at an unrelated event, Adams was defiant.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
14 July 2025
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Trump's defiant response in Butler, Penn., may have fueled his big Election Day gains among male voters.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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In addition to the intense, sometimes uncontrollable itching, hives can also burn, sting and swell.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Flow Space,
23 July 2025
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The model can be hard to scale or standardize, particularly for agencies with diverse service offerings, and there’s the risk that comes with uncontrollable external factors hindering outcomes.—
Jacquelyn LaMar Berney,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Whitmer and recalcitrant lawmakers deserve an equal share of the blame for the lame duck flameout.—
M.L. Elrick,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
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The United States has long sought to deport immigrants to third countries when their own home nation is recalcitrant or won't accept their own deportees.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Uncooperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uncooperative. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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