as in distant
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others
she was consistently surly and offish with the would-be suitors who came calling
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Recent Examples of offish
So long as that situation continues, the 43-year-old’s allegedly arrogant and stand-offish treatment of his players will not worry the club hierarchy too much.
—
Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
They weren’t being stand-offish, not at all.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Richard’s other big ally is undervalued and initially stand-offish plant engineer Clarence C. Baker (Dennis Haysbert), who eventually warms to Richard’s interest in his machines, and who encourages him to think big.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Mar. 2023
Guzmán said the stereotype that Germans are stand-offish is way off the mark.
—Soudi Jiménezescritor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2022
But announcements on two continents in the last week show that showing the stand-offish situation is changing, with Royal Dutch Shell and General Motors hooking up in the US and BP buying into a BMW-Daimler charging joint venture in Europe.
—Michael Taylor, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021
Off fans will also find a few cakes, including the show-offish Swedish Prinsesstårta.
—Kate Krader, Bloomberg.com, 13 Nov. 2020
The plaza between the two buildings makes the complex feel open and welcoming, not overbearing or stand-offish.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 4 Oct. 2020
Most of the mentor-teacher characters in kung fu films are extremely stand-offish and intimidating.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 1 July 2020
Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
They weren’t being stand-offish, not at all.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
Richard’s other big ally is undervalued and initially stand-offish plant engineer Clarence C. Baker (Dennis Haysbert), who eventually warms to Richard’s interest in his machines, and who encourages him to think big.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Mar. 2023
Guzmán said the stereotype that Germans are stand-offish is way off the mark.
—Soudi Jiménezescritor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2022
But announcements on two continents in the last week show that showing the stand-offish situation is changing, with Royal Dutch Shell and General Motors hooking up in the US and BP buying into a BMW-Daimler charging joint venture in Europe.
—Michael Taylor, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021
Off fans will also find a few cakes, including the show-offish Swedish Prinsesstårta.
—Kate Krader, Bloomberg.com, 13 Nov. 2020
The plaza between the two buildings makes the complex feel open and welcoming, not overbearing or stand-offish.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 4 Oct. 2020
Most of the mentor-teacher characters in kung fu films are extremely stand-offish and intimidating.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 1 July 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offish
Adjective
-
Each time, brown leaves that had drifted from distant trees quivered and spun on the surface.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
The intricate arches perfectly frame patches of sky or distant mountains.—
Alia Beard Rau,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Three children who were playing hide-and-seek spotted a cat floating on the surface of the water in the garden of an unoccupied semi-detached home.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
-
Over time, the bond between the sliding frame and the glass can deteriorate, causing the moonroof glass to become detached while the car is operating.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Few things feel as satisfying as a cold drink of water after mowing the lawn on a hot afternoon, finishing a tough workout or waking up thirsty in the middle of the night.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
-
The heat wave can contribute to the lack of sea ice extent because there is not reflective white ice surface to keep it cold, Neff said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
The point is more accurate typing, perhaps Plus cool keyboard shortcuts for launching your apps!—
David Pogue,
CBS News,
7 Dec. 2025
-
Architects Michael Kemper Goodwin and Rolph Oswald designed the building like an inverted pyramid so that none of the walls would receive direct sunlight, keeping the building cool in Arizona’s scorching summers.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
7 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The air in Norway is exceptionally dry.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
The L'Oréal Elvive Hyaluron Plump Hair Serum is a thickening, hydrating styling product that revives thin, limp, dry hair almost instantly.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Garnish with the reserved bacon and some fresh thyme, and dinner is served.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
2 Dec. 2025
-
Add reserved chicken and greens to soup.—
Kathryn Gregory,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The design is still in progress, and while NJ Transit has joined Amtrak in shaping the latest proposal, the MTA remains sulkily aloof.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
8 June 2026
-
As Molloy gradually succeeds in puncturing Lestat’s aloof, arrogant outer shell, his sound correspondingly shifts from assaultive punk to more contemplative ballads.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
The withdrawn draft focused on setting up several new watchdogs to keep AI in check, including a dedicated commission and a special insurance fund to help people if the new technology caused harm.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The story follows Trey, a withdrawn ex-con surviving as a night driver on the city’s margins, who forms a tentative and increasingly intimate bond with Camden (Dafne Keen), a sharp and restless young woman working as a call girl.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offish. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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