as in stubborn
not willing to do what someone wants or asks for; not cooperative
uncooperative children an uncooperative witness
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Recent Examples of uncooperative
Before the exam began, Booker's attorney, Robbie Lang, told the court that he was told by jail officers — and personally saw his client — who was uncooperative with dressing in his jail uniform, with the only thing covering some of his body being some type of blanket.
—
Christina Hall, Freep.com, 9 Aug. 2025
The two agents eventually find the victims’ murdered bodies and apprehend the Ku Klux Klan killers after Anderson persuades Ward to discard his high-road rule book in dealing with uncooperative local white folks.
—George Skelton, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2025
Several witnesses on scene were uncooperative and gave limited testimony, police said.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 June 2025
This image was a bit challenging to capture, due to uncooperative weather and the fact that the Orion constellation was beginning to set early along the western horizon.
—Miguel Claro, Space.com, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for uncooperative
Christina Hall, Freep.com, 9 Aug. 2025
The two agents eventually find the victims’ murdered bodies and apprehend the Ku Klux Klan killers after Anderson persuades Ward to discard his high-road rule book in dealing with uncooperative local white folks.
—George Skelton, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2025
Several witnesses on scene were uncooperative and gave limited testimony, police said.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 June 2025
This image was a bit challenging to capture, due to uncooperative weather and the fact that the Orion constellation was beginning to set early along the western horizon.
—Miguel Claro, Space.com, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for uncooperative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uncooperative
Adjective
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Viewers were quick to point out the hilarity of the dog's stubborn protest, with many suggesting that the dachshund had already claimed permanent rights to the bed.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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The stubborn myth that Jews are too safe to be targets is colliding with a painful new reality.—
Andrew Weinstein,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Penalties can apply even if the omission wasn’t willful.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Maybe this willful disregard for someone’s wishes, particularly about their home, is part of some larger family dynamic.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But to Hollywood, Pusser’s defiant story was irresistible.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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A day earlier, at his pre-match news conference, Pochettino sounded defensive and defiant.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The main risk is that these batteries can overheat and go into thermal runaway, a chain reaction that occurs when a lithium-ion cell enters an uncontrollable, self-heating state—resulting in extremely high temperature, smoke and, ultimately, a fire that is notoriously difficult to put out.—
Suzanne Rowan Kelleher,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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See a doctor if your bumps do not improve with home care or if the itching is uncontrollable.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Congress remains recalcitrant to gun reform even after the gruesome scenes at Parkland, Uvalde, and Sandy Hook.—
John J. Donohue,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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With Iranian power and influence waning, and with the challenges of an ascendant China and a recalcitrant Russia necessarily dominating the American national security agenda, indifference may appear to be the most appealing option for Washington.—
Suzanne Maloney,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Uncooperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uncooperative. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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