refusal to collaborate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refusal to collaborate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing someone's unwillingness to work together with others on a project or task. Example: "The team's progress was hindered by his refusal to collaborate with his colleagues."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Lack of communication, mistrust, and refusal to collaborate were some of their biggest challenges.

Harvard Business Review

Unfortunately, Facebook's refusal to collaborate with scientists and share data has made it difficult to know how many voters are affected or where this election interference comes from.

The Washington Post

Traded parties engage in a repeated game and usually resort to damage compensation claims, refusal to collaborate further, or an immediate exit when facing potential betrayal.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Their backers are disappointed in their unwillingness to compromise and refusal to collaborate.

HuffPost

The foreign engagement gap is widened by a refusal to collaborate at home, as Steven Metz argued in World Politics Review.

Huffington Post

This translates into a refusal to collaborate.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The presence of Turcomens there are anything between 800,000 and 2m in Iraq serves as a pretext for Turkey's intervention to "protect" its Turkic cousins.Relations between the Turks and Mr Barzani have sharply deteriorated in recent months, mainly over the latter's refusal to continue to collaborate in military operations.

The Economist

Mr Medvedev also criticised the refusal of Western powers to collaborate with Russia in Syria.

Independent

They love to collaborate.

The Economist

"Everyone wanted to collaborate".

The New York Times - Health

They agreed to collaborate.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "refusal to collaborate" to underscore the negative impact of individual resistance on group projects or organizational goals.

Common error

Avoid using "refusal to collaborate" when the issue is a lack of skills or resources rather than a conscious decision. "Inability to collaborate" is more appropriate when circumstances prevent participation, not unwillingness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refusal to collaborate" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the act of declining to work jointly with others. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for use.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

14%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "refusal to collaborate" is a grammatically correct and functional phrase used to describe a deliberate choice not to work jointly with others. As Ludwig AI states, this expression is appropriate for written English and denotes someone's unwillingness to engage in teamwork. It is most frequently found in News & Media, Scientific, and Formal & Business contexts. While not overly common, the phrase effectively highlights the negative impact of individual resistance on group endeavors. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a conscious decision rather than an inability to cooperate. Consider alternatives like "unwillingness to cooperate" or "failure to cooperate" to adjust the emphasis of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unwillingness to work together

Replaces "collaborate" with a more explicit description of joint work.

unwillingness to cooperate

Highlights a lack of willingness, placing less emphasis on the joint effort than "collaborate".

decline to cooperate

Emphasizes the act of refusing, similar to "refusal", but uses "cooperate" instead of "collaborate".

reject collaboration

Expresses a clear and decisive refusal, emphasizing the act of rejecting the opportunity to collaborate.

failure to cooperate

Focuses on the unsuccessful outcome of attempted collaboration rather than the initial refusal.

non-cooperation

A more concise, noun-based way to express the lack of collaborative action.

opposition to collaboration

Highlights active resistance rather than simply a lack of participation.

disinclination to collaborate

Indicates a lack of enthusiasm or motivation to engage in collaborative efforts.

resistance to collaboration

Similar to "opposition", but suggests a more inherent or ingrained unwillingness.

inability to partner

Shifts the focus to a lack of capacity to form a partnership for collaborative efforts.

FAQs

How can I use "refusal to collaborate" in a sentence?

You can use "refusal to collaborate" to describe a situation where someone actively chooses not to work with others, such as, "The project failed due to his "refusal to collaborate" with the team members".

What are some alternatives to "refusal to collaborate"?

Alternatives include "unwillingness to cooperate", "failure to cooperate", or "decline to cooperate" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "refusal to collaborate" or "unwillingness to collaborate"?

Both are correct, but "refusal to collaborate" implies a more active and deliberate choice not to participate, while "unwillingness to collaborate" suggests a general lack of enthusiasm or motivation.

What does "refusal to collaborate" imply?

The phrase "refusal to collaborate" often implies a conscious decision not to work with others, which can stem from mistrust, disagreement, or a lack of motivation. It highlights a more active and deliberate stance than simply being unable to collaborate.