noncooperative

adjective

non·​co·​op·​er·​a·​tive ˌnän-kō-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv How to pronounce noncooperative (audio)
-pə-ˌrā-
: of, relating to, or characterized by noncooperation

Examples of noncooperative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Dolphins that partnered with fishers also experienced a 13 percent boost in survival, compared with noncooperative ones, most likely because of the animals spending the majority of their time in the lagoon. Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2023 Cooperative birds' cheating rate averaged around 12 percent, while noncooperative birds around 23 percent. Joseph Calamia, Discover Magazine, 20 Aug. 2010 The staff remembers him as mild, withdrawn, clearly smart, but also steadfastly noncooperative. New York Times, 26 July 2022 The disclosures would also extend to activities in jurisdictions that are on the EU’s list of noncooperative jurisdictions. Nana Ama Sarfo, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2021 My research in bioethics focuses on questions like how to induce those who are noncooperative to get on board with doing what’s best for the public good. Parker Crutchfield, The Conversation, 10 Aug. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'noncooperative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of noncooperative was in 1867

Dictionary Entries Near noncooperative

Cite this Entry

“Noncooperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/noncooperative. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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