uncooperative

adjective

un·​co·​op·​er·​at·​ive ˌən-kō-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv 

-ˈä-pə-ˌrā-

: marked by an unwillingness or inability to work with others : not cooperative

the suspect was uncooperative with investigators

an uncooperative witness

… he wonders whether it would be such a bad thing if their uncooperative nanny quit …

—Caitlin Flanagan

also : providing difficulty

struggled with an uncooperative corkscrew

uncooperative weather

Examples of uncooperative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Medical staff reported that Copeland was uncooperative, which is common for people going through withdrawal, and had lice. —Erin Glynn, The Enquirer, 2 June 2024

The ruling Monday came after the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office filed a request to toss the charge, citing an uncooperative witness and lack of evidence pointing to Kenyon Webster as the shooter. —Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Apr. 2024

Weather, which has been uncooperative this week, is a contributing factor. —Hayes Gardner, Baltimore Sun, 10 May 2024

China has long been uncooperative with U.S. efforts to deport Chinese citizens back to their country, according to American officials. —David Noriega, NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above