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
Nevertheless, some common, noncooperation policies have existed in a handful of places, including Charlotte, where the police don't help with immigration enforcement.
—
CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
Some might argue that for middle America conditions are not yet painful enough, socially or economically, to inspire sustained noncooperation.
—Michael Shank, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Any entity receiving city funding, such as contractors, would have to follow the city’s warrant and noncooperation standards.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 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
CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
Some might argue that for middle America conditions are not yet painful enough, socially or economically, to inspire sustained noncooperation.
—Michael Shank, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Any entity receiving city funding, such as contractors, would have to follow the city’s warrant and noncooperation standards.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 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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The pseudo-goth hair and costume choices speak to an inner rebelliousness that isn’t so much unleashed as forced loose by a system that values the appearance of a mythical impartiality over her humanity, leaving her with little recourse but to step outside the confines of the law.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2026
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The natural obstinacy and rebelliousness of Israa’s teenage years are hyperaccelerated by culture clashes with both her family and the other kids around her.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The rebellion stems from Labor’s heavy losses in local elections last week and widespread party frustration over Starmer’s leadership, stagnant economic growth and failure to deliver on campaign promises.—
Danica Kirka,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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On the internet, masculinism is presented as a rebellion—a transgressive middle finger to the liberal establishment, expressed in all the words a corporate HR department would order you not to say.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Noun
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His campaign is built around an appeal to mainstream Republicans, swing voters and old-school conservatives who see his defiance of Trump in 2020 as a mark of independence rather than betrayal.—
Joe Kovac,
AJC.com,
12 May 2026
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Despite that effort, Hoskins and other Republican statewide officials enacted the map in defiance of decades of precedent.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
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Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.—
Brad Shoup,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The disrespect will only add to the motivation for the defending Division 1 champions.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
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Let’s be honest here, and no disrespect to venerable family board games, but Monopoly is kind of boring.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
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Still, tension rises when your need for reassurance clashes with pride or stubbornness.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
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Letter writer worries mom’s stubbornness will limit visits just as parents are aging.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On Wednesday, dissident artists Pussy Riot stormed the Russian pavilion while waving Ukrainian flags and calling for disobedience.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
6 May 2026
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Fernando Melo Flores, a 40-year-old Irvine resident, was charged with one felony count of possession of child pornography, one felony count of unauthorized computer access, and one misdemeanor count of willful disobedience of a court order.—
Ryanne Mena,
Oc Register,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Noncooperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/noncooperation. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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