refusing to cooperate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refusing to cooperate" is correct and can be used in written English.
An example sentence might be: "The suspect was refusing to cooperate with the police investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Furthermore, bond markets keep refusing to cooperate.

The New York Times

Now, he is refusing to cooperate.

The New York Times

They are still refusing to cooperate fully with the police.

The Guardian

"We cannot accept that Iran is refusing to cooperate with the I.A.E.A".

The New York Times

The boy was taken into custody after refusing to cooperate with the police, they said.

The New York Times

Prosecutors say he was fired for refusing to cooperate with an internal Tyco investigation.

The New York Times

Her father is refusing to cooperate with the consul in Jeddah.

The Guardian

To the end, Haughey ducked and weaved, refusing to cooperate fully with either tribunal.

The Guardian

Civil liberties lawyers said a number of protesters were refusing to cooperate and withholding their identities.

The New York Times

Anderson spent a year in prison for refusing to cooperate with the government's investigation.

The New York Times - Sports

They were refusing to cooperate with the director and staging an impromptu sit-in.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "refusing to cooperate", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what the subject is refusing to cooperate with, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Ensure the subject of "refusing to cooperate" is clearly defined. A vague subject can lead to confusion about who isn't cooperating, weakening your message. Instead of saying "There's a refusal to cooperate", specify who is refusing: "The witness is refusing to cooperate".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refusing to cooperate" functions as a gerund phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and it often acts as a noun phrase, serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Examples demonstrate usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "refusing to cooperate" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI. It functions as a gerund phrase and is most frequently found in news and media contexts. The phrase conveys a lack of willingness to work together or comply with requests. When writing, ensure the subject of the refusal is clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "declining to collaborate" or "not willing to assist" can be used for slight variations in tone and meaning. While generally neutral, the phrase maintains a level of formality appropriate for professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

declining to collaborate

Replaces "cooperate" with "collaborate" and "refusing" with "declining", suggesting a more formal tone.

not willing to assist

Substitutes "refusing to cooperate" with a more direct expression of unwillingness to help.

unwilling to participate

Focuses on the lack of willingness to take part in a joint effort.

failing to comply

Emphasizes a breach of rules or expectations by not cooperating.

being uncooperative

Uses an adjective form to describe the state of not cooperating.

resisting collaboration

Highlights active resistance to working together.

obstructing assistance

Indicates a deliberate act of blocking or hindering help.

not playing along

An informal way of saying someone is not cooperating, often in a game or plan.

stonewalling the process

Suggests a deliberate attempt to delay or block progress through non-cooperation.

thumbing their nose at cooperation

Idiomatic expression indicating a dismissive refusal to cooperate.

FAQs

What does "refusing to cooperate" mean?

The phrase "refusing to cooperate" means to decline to work together, assist, or comply with a request or demand. It suggests a deliberate act of non-compliance or unwillingness to participate in a joint effort.

How can I use "refusing to cooperate" in a sentence?

You can use "refusing to cooperate" to describe someone's unwillingness to assist or comply. For example: "The suspect is "refusing to cooperate" with the investigation" or "Several states are "refusing to cooperate" with the federal commission".

What are some alternatives to "refusing to cooperate"?

Some alternatives to "refusing to cooperate" include "declining to collaborate", "not willing to assist", or "being uncooperative", depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

Is "refusing to cooperate" formal or informal language?

"Refusing to cooperate" is considered neutral to formal language, suitable for news reports, business correspondence, and academic writing. More informal alternatives might include "not playing along".