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
Caitlin Flanagan
also
: providing difficulty
struggled with an uncooperative corkscrew
uncooperative weather
Examples of uncooperative in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Uncooperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uncooperative. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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