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
-
The committee launched a parallel investigation into whether Cawthorn was engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, his distant cousin, after explicit videos and photographs circulated of Cawthorn.—
Mary Ramsey
April 22,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Flying cars — the quintessential technology used by pop culture to portray a distant future.—
News Service Of Florida,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The tornado sucked out the front window of his house and ripped the door off his detached garage.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Gemini, however, brings the sparkle of clever insight, but their playful approach thrives more in detached, light-hearted settings.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Garlic is a slow-growing and cold-hardy plant that’s usually planted in garden beds in autumn, long after the rest of the garden has been put to bed for the year.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Apr. 2026
-
After nearly five decades in space, engineers have had to steadily power down heaters and instruments while making sure the spacecraft do not get so cold that key systems, including fuel lines, are put at risk.—
Eric Mack,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
On a cool Friday night at Audi Field, the Washington Spirit didn’t just win.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Yes, Barcelona comes across normally as a cool place, a vanguard city which everybody wants to visit.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
For a truly energizing experience, the signature Water Ritual incorporates a dry sauna, cold deluge shower and wet steam with an invigorating scrub, culminating with dips in the hot and cold plunge pools.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Tumble dry on low heat with clean tennis balls or dryer balls to help restore fluffiness.—
Katie Cloyd,
Martha Stewart,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The way the actress moves through space physically gives even the most frenetic sequences an athletic, almost ethereal sense of direction, and Tung’s reserved ferocity doesn’t so much add to the spectacle as justify it.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Shayla was more reserved, often scrolling quietly on her phone.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The pop star needs a dress for a comeback show the following weekend, just days away, which Sam and her aloof assistant Hilda (Hunter Schafer, wasted) say can’t be done.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The Tuscan capital’s poshest hotel stands aloof from the selfie crush around Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo, in the quiet northern reaches of central Florence.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Parents report that many children stop eating, lose weight and become withdrawn.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Along the way, Babilonia matured from the shy withdrawn child who refused to hold a boy’s hand into a bold, strong and confident woman.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offish. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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