uncooperative

adjective

un·​co·​op·​er·​at·​ive ˌən-kō-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv 

-ˈä-pə-ˌrā-

: 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

Is the joke really funny enough to force a crying or uncooperative child to take photos with Santa? —Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 28 Nov. 2025

The suspect was described as uncooperative after the shooting. —Caroline Linton, CBS News, 28 Nov. 2025

Ashlee has not been named a person of interest, but police say the mother has been uncooperative in the investigation. —Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025

As for Buzzard, her uncooperative stance may be frustrating for investigators, but the Fifth Amendment guarantees everyone the right to silence in an interrogation. —Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 19 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for uncooperative

• inoperative
• operative