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

This parenting tip involves spanking a child or using another form of corporal punishment to discipline them for misbehaving, talking back, or being uncooperative. —Sherri Gordon, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026

Police said the victim was uncooperative with officers. —Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026

There might be more than one motive A person could walk into a convenience store to rob money and encounter an uncooperative clerk, changing the state of play. —Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026

At the time, group members were uncooperative and gave conflicting testimony, according to Colton Police Sgt. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for uncooperative

• inoperative
• operative