standoffish

adjective

stand·​off·​ish stand-ˈȯ-fish 

: somewhat cold and reserved

standoffishly adverb

standoffishness noun

Synonyms of standoffish

• distant
• detached
• cold
• aloof
• cool
• reserved
• withdrawn

Examples of standoffish in a Sentence

She tends to be a bit standoffish with strangers.

she proved to be simply shy, not standoffish

Recent Examples on the Web

Hickok, for all his later derring-do, was reportedly courteous, quiet, and perhaps a bit standoffish. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 2026

Don’t mistake him for being standoffish, though. — Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 12 June 2026

Over the past two months, Searles-Harris had become increasingly standoffish and withdrawn, his neighbor Jimmy Smith told CNN Wednesday. — Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN Money, 4 June 2026

While the past ten months have grown other characters’ confidence — Whitaker and Javadi both seem more comfortable in the ER on this Fourth of July weekend — Robby is now paranoid and standoffish, especially in the face of his replacement. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for standoffish

• cuttlefish
• jellyfish
• sablefish
• bluefish
• catfish
• codfish
• crawfish
• dogfish
• finfish
• flatfish
• goldfish
• groundfish

Kids Definition

standoffish

adjective

stand·​off·​ish stan-ˈdȯ-fish 

: not friendly : aloof