uncommunicative
adjective
un·com·mu·ni·ca·tive
ˌən-kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkā-tiv 
-ni-kə-tiv
: not disposed to talk or impart information : reserved
Examples of uncommunicative in a Sentence
the child was uncommunicative and unhelpful to school investigators
intelligence agencies must be uncommunicative about their operations if they are to be at all effective
Recent Examples on the Web
Some of these units had a long history of problems, others were uncommunicative, and some functioned well but aspired to collaborate more.
—
Michael P. Leiter, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2015
Its steering is vague and uncommunicative, though, in the rain at highway speeds.
—Don Schroeder, Car and Driver, 29 May 2023
Place’s loving but irresolutely uncommunicative momma sends mixed signals to a daughter who just wants to run around the mall and gawk at boys with her friends, but instead runs into a sinister lothario played by Treat Williams.
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 12 May 2023
When officers arrived at the house, the sheriff said, Monahan was uncommunicative and would not come out.
—Ed Shanahan, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Apr. 2023
Managers who are unsupportive, unfair, uncommunicative and unreasonable about expectations can turn a reasonable workload into a source of chronic stress.
—Bjorn Reynolds, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2023
No one raises a voice to shatter the illusion that all is well — until the unannounced arrival of Bill and Venida’s daughter, Patti (Anna Camp), with her young, mostly uncommunicative daughter, Hadley (Billie Roy).
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Jan. 2023
This ability to detect consciousness could also help physicians and family members make critical decisions, such as withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy, for tens of thousands of uncommunicative patients.
—Christof Koch, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2017
This is an emotionally layered drama that requires the performers to convincingly act out rage, euphoria and extreme passion, yet also at times be withdrawn, awkward and uncommunicative.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2022
See More
Michael P. Leiter, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2015
Its steering is vague and uncommunicative, though, in the rain at highway speeds.
—Don Schroeder, Car and Driver, 29 May 2023
Place’s loving but irresolutely uncommunicative momma sends mixed signals to a daughter who just wants to run around the mall and gawk at boys with her friends, but instead runs into a sinister lothario played by Treat Williams.
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 12 May 2023
When officers arrived at the house, the sheriff said, Monahan was uncommunicative and would not come out.
—Ed Shanahan, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Apr. 2023
Managers who are unsupportive, unfair, uncommunicative and unreasonable about expectations can turn a reasonable workload into a source of chronic stress.
—Bjorn Reynolds, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2023
No one raises a voice to shatter the illusion that all is well — until the unannounced arrival of Bill and Venida’s daughter, Patti (Anna Camp), with her young, mostly uncommunicative daughter, Hadley (Billie Roy).
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Jan. 2023
This ability to detect consciousness could also help physicians and family members make critical decisions, such as withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy, for tens of thousands of uncommunicative patients.
—Christof Koch, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2017
This is an emotionally layered drama that requires the performers to convincingly act out rage, euphoria and extreme passion, yet also at times be withdrawn, awkward and uncommunicative.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'uncommunicative.' 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
1691, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near uncommunicative
Cite this Entry
“Uncommunicative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uncommunicative. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
uncommunicative
adjective
un·com·mu·ni·ca·tive
ˌən-kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt-iv
-ni-kət-
: not tending to talk or give out information : reserved
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