as in rebelliousness
failure or refusal to do what someone has told or asked you to do; lack of cooperation
They adopted a strategy of noncooperation until they were treated fairly.
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Recent Examples of noncooperation
In a nutshell: Nonviolent resistance is based on noncooperation with autocratic actions.
—
Shelley Inglis, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2025
While declarations have been made in the past regarding our city having a sanctuary status, there have been no clear directives toward local law enforcement regarding noncooperation with federal agencies such as ICE.
—Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
These movements used many different tools at their disposal — lawsuits, mass rallies, strikes, work slowdowns, boycotts and other forms of noncooperation and resistance.
—David Brooks, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2025
Attempted strikes, boycotts, and other forms of mass noncooperation were weak, localized, and lacked support.
—Erica Chenoweth, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2014
See All Example Sentences for noncooperation
Shelley Inglis, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2025
While declarations have been made in the past regarding our city having a sanctuary status, there have been no clear directives toward local law enforcement regarding noncooperation with federal agencies such as ICE.
—Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
These movements used many different tools at their disposal — lawsuits, mass rallies, strikes, work slowdowns, boycotts and other forms of noncooperation and resistance.
—David Brooks, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2025
Attempted strikes, boycotts, and other forms of mass noncooperation were weak, localized, and lacked support.
—Erica Chenoweth, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2014
See All Example Sentences for noncooperation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for noncooperation
Noun
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At times, Carol’s admirable rebelliousness seems to come at the cost of self-flagellating destruction, a badge of honor to be miserable.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
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The performance goes from fiery to ineffectual as DiCaprio’s character, Bob, loses his youthful rebelliousness in a haze of pot and resignation.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And, of course, boarding schools themselves can be immensely silly, dominated by boys’ pranks, rebellions, and mishaps.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
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Here are some notable uses of the Insurrection Act, usually to quell rebellions or in cases where local or state authorities were unable or unwilling to maintain order or uphold the Constitution.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Overnight, a show of defiance inside Venezuela from Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello Rondón, who posted a video to social media making his allegiances clear.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
7 Jan. 2026
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During her own allocution moments later, Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, likewise struck a note of defiance and introduced herself as the First Lady of Venezuela, her face appearing bruised and bandaged.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The orphan’s predicament is as much a matter of willfulness as of survival—inseparable, as in the works of Charles Dickens, from a dream of being somehow rescued by the idea of an adult world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
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While this change reduces the explicit admission of willfulness, a narrative is still required.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The message and disrespect were unmistakable.—
Wanda James,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
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The Globes’ decision to not air the presentation of the award for best original score came across as a sign of disrespect for film music.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There is genius in Tomlin’s stubbornness.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
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The Dilbert principle — traced back to a quote in a 1995 strip — posited that managers and higher-ups are actually successful morons whose stubbornness is confused for real leadership qualities.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In the end, her disobedience—forged in tandem with and in opposition to her tribe—felt unmoored without a fellow-Mitford’s pigtail to pull.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
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However, the dictates of a person's conscience, religion, or personal philosophy cannot justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
22 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Noncooperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/noncooperation. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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