uncommunicative

adjective

un·​com·​mu·​ni·​ca·​tive ˌən-kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkā-tiv How to pronounce uncommunicative (audio)
-ni-kə-tiv
: not disposed to talk or impart information : reserved

Examples of uncommunicative in a Sentence

the child was uncommunicative and unhelpful to school investigators intelligence agencies must be uncommunicative about their operations if they are to be at all effective
Recent Examples on the Web The first time Frances Fisher’s character appears in The King Tide, she’s stooped, uncommunicative, crushed by life and perhaps by a stroke. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Sep. 2023 The steering delivers good highway stability but is dull and uncommunicative on meandering two-lanes. Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 8 Sep. 2023 After moving in with his uncommunicative father, played by De Niro, Max and his ex-wife Jenna (Byrne) remain at odds on how to best raise their autistic son, Ezra, played by Fitzgerald. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Nov. 2023 Bobby Cannavale puts it all on the screen as a New Jersey stand-up comic who constantly butts heads with his ex-wife (Rose Byrne) over the best way of raising their autistic son (impressive newcomer William A. Fitzgerald), while also butting heads with his uncommunicative dad (Robert De Niro). Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Sep. 2023 Most candidates are unprepared and end up being boring, rambling or uncommunicative. Phil Blair, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2023 Some of these units had a long history of problems, others were uncommunicative, and some functioned well but aspired to collaborate more. Michael P. Leiter, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2015 Its steering is vague and uncommunicative, though, in the rain at highway speeds. Don Schroeder, Car and Driver, 29 May 2023 Place’s loving but irresolutely uncommunicative momma sends mixed signals to a daughter who just wants to run around the mall and gawk at boys with her friends, but instead runs into a sinister lothario played by Treat Williams. Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 12 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'uncommunicative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of uncommunicative was in 1691

Dictionary Entries Near uncommunicative

Cite this Entry

“Uncommunicative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uncommunicative. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

uncommunicative

adjective
un·​com·​mu·​ni·​ca·​tive ˌən-kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt-iv How to pronounce uncommunicative (audio)
-ni-kət-
: not tending to talk or give out information : reserved
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