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
Shane and the other three officers, in their reports, described Curry as being uncooperative and declining to submit to a standard field sobriety test, but instead telling them to put him in handcuffs.
—
Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Resolving neighborhood disputes can take time, especially if the other party is uncooperative.
—Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Levi was part of an emergency response team called to Nantwi’s housing unit to help National Guard members who sought backup after Nantwi was uncooperative during a prisoner headcount.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Her sister, Jasmine (Jasmine Ashanti), a wild card auntie, arrives with wine and a saucily uncooperative attitude.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for uncooperative
Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Resolving neighborhood disputes can take time, especially if the other party is uncooperative.
—Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Levi was part of an emergency response team called to Nantwi’s housing unit to help National Guard members who sought backup after Nantwi was uncooperative during a prisoner headcount.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Her sister, Jasmine (Jasmine Ashanti), a wild card auntie, arrives with wine and a saucily uncooperative attitude.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for uncooperative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uncooperative
Adjective
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Jared Speight is a stubborn titan of Long Island abstraction when star writer Roxy Margaux first becomes infatuated with his bravado.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
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For concrete or tile, a mild cleaner helps remove the stubborn pollen film that builds up over spring months.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Under current Kansas law, reckless driving is defined as operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
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Like most of what Welch says, it’s based on willful ignorance and emotion rather than facts.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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But an increasingly defiant Daisy has another idea.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
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While Google has struck a defiant tone, internal backlash appears to be mounting, with several employees criticizing the deal publicly.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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The plane became uncontrollable after take-off and crashed short of the runway on its return to the airport, according to the complaints.—
Joe Marusak
May 1,
Charlotte Observer,
1 May 2026
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It's characterized by persistent, intrusive and uncontrollable thoughts about food.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The failure of the network computer also made Ellison weirdly recalcitrant about the cloud.—
Elizabeth Lopatto,
The Verge,
29 Apr. 2026
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Consciousness may be the most recalcitrant concept of all.—
Dan Turello,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Uncooperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uncooperative. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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