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
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
What began as a routine call quickly escalated when officers entered the home with a property manager and encountered an uncooperative individual inside who claimed to be armed and barricaded inside, according to the Hermosa Beach Police Department.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
This parenting tip involves spanking a child or using another form of corporal punishment to discipline them for misbehaving, talking back, or being uncooperative.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
There might be more than one motive A person could walk into a convenience store to rob money and encounter an uncooperative clerk, changing the state of play.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for uncooperative
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
What began as a routine call quickly escalated when officers entered the home with a property manager and encountered an uncooperative individual inside who claimed to be armed and barricaded inside, according to the Hermosa Beach Police Department.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
This parenting tip involves spanking a child or using another form of corporal punishment to discipline them for misbehaving, talking back, or being uncooperative.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
There might be more than one motive A person could walk into a convenience store to rob money and encounter an uncooperative clerk, changing the state of play.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for uncooperative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uncooperative
Adjective
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More than a day later, firefighters remained on scene to douse stubborn hotspots.—
Naveen Dhaliwal,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
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Use a cooktop scraper or soft sponge to remove stubborn residue while the cooktop is still warm for easier cleaning.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Late last year Rivera’s family filed a nine-count lawsuit against Baker, the city and CPD, alleging willful and wanton conduct, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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Price and Ramirez were charged with second-degree murder, willful harm or injury resulting in a child’s death, felony child endangerment and possession of fentanyl and drug paraphernalia.—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As a teenager, Bell flocked to people with a defiant edge.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Among the defiant political projects that marked Bernstein’s life was, of course, his sexuality.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Iran is an uncontrollable, radical country that spreads terror and mayhem throughout the Middle East and has continually threatened America.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
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The episode culminates with Vanessa dying in her hospital bed, sending Wilson into a fit of uncontrollable rage that ends with him strangling a man to death.—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Consciousness may be the most recalcitrant concept of all.—
Dan Turello,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
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Adams had carefully shepherded it through an often-recalcitrant City Council and through the gauntlet of demands coming from both the real estate lobby and pro-housing advocates.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
1 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Uncooperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uncooperative. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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