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
Years ago, one of us was in the Bahamas chasing a typically uncooperative lizard across dense and narrow branches, frustrated that its nimble agility was thwarting efforts to catch it.
—James T. Stroud, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025
The sketch started with host Poehler playing an uncooperative Attorney General Pam Bondi, appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2025
In court documents, the MSP denied wrongdoing by the trooper, alleging Pettway was difficult to deal with on the day in question, became uncooperative, used profanity and resisted arrest.
—Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2025
As investigators began searching for the husband and 4-year-old, Miller became uncooperative and was taken to the hospital for evaluation, Campbell said.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for uncooperative
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James T. Stroud, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025
The sketch started with host Poehler playing an uncooperative Attorney General Pam Bondi, appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2025
In court documents, the MSP denied wrongdoing by the trooper, alleging Pettway was difficult to deal with on the day in question, became uncooperative, used profanity and resisted arrest.
—Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2025
As investigators began searching for the husband and 4-year-old, Miller became uncooperative and was taken to the hospital for evaluation, Campbell said.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 28 Aug. 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 23 Oct. 2025.
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