uncommunicative

adjective

un·​com·​mu·​ni·​ca·​tive ˌən-kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkā-tiv How to pronounce uncommunicative (audio)
-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drama that requires the performers to convincingly act out rage, euphoria and extreme passion, yet also at times be withdrawn, awkward and uncommunicative.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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of uncommunicative was in 1691

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.

Kids Definition

uncommunicative

adjective
un·​com·​mu·​ni·​ca·​tive ˌən-kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt-iv How to pronounce uncommunicative (audio)
-ni-kət-
: not tending to talk or give out information : reserved
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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