standoffish
adjective
stand·off·ish
stand-ˈȯ-fish 
: somewhat cold and reserved
standoffishly
adverb
standoffishness
noun
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
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
This creates a mini-crisis until he gets replaced by Matt (Chosen Jacobs), a bit of a standoffish kid who now must step up.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
The boy was quiet, even standoffish, when Steve Montgomery first met him 15 years ago.
—Taylor Batten, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2026
Kirk is appealingly standoffish, if such a thing might be imagined.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
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Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
This creates a mini-crisis until he gets replaced by Matt (Chosen Jacobs), a bit of a standoffish kid who now must step up.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
The boy was quiet, even standoffish, when Steve Montgomery first met him 15 years ago.
—Taylor Batten, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2026
Kirk is appealingly standoffish, if such a thing might be imagined.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for standoffish
Cite this Entry
“Standoffish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standoffish. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
standoffish
adjective
stand·off·ish
stan-ˈdȯ-fish
: not friendly : aloof
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