offish

adjective

ˈȯ-fish How to pronounce offish (audio)
Definition of offishnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 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
  1. distant
  2. detached
  3. cold
  4. cool
  5. dry
  6. reserved
  7. aloof
  8. withdrawn
Adjective
  • An exuberant pre-dawn sky — filled with large, bright stars, a luminous crescent moon, and blue and white swirls — dominates the landscape featuring a prominent cypress tree and distant hillside village.
    — Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The changes include allowing the adoption of distant male relatives raised as commoners to become royals and father future heirs, and letting princesses keep their royal status after marrying commoners.
    — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of distant
Adjective
  • The exterior entry and upper-level access of the detached, two-story guesthouse.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Goldfish centers on a 17-year-old high school senior who presents as detached, ironic and emotionally armored, but underneath is quietly paralyzed by fear of failure, abandonment and becoming his parents.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of detached
Adjective
  • And without colder weather, where the temperatures drop and stay below zero, the result will likely be a smaller snowpack.
    — Ava Berger, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
  • How bad the flu season gets each year depends on factors such as the dominant flu strain, how well the annual vaccine matches it, how many people get vaccinated, tourism levels, and how much cold weather leads to more indoor gatherings.
    — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of cold
Adjective
  • Inside, furnishings are minimal, with timber and cool-toned stone alongside floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the landscaped gardens.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Grab a pretty blouse and snappy loafers to wear for brunch dates on warmer autumn days, then pair them with a denim jacket and slouchy knee-high boots as the weather gets cooler.
    — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of cool
Adjective
  • And dry forests and parched soils significantly increase the likelihood and severity of wildfires.
    — Ava Berger, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
  • And El Nino is supposed to keep west Africa hot and dry through the winter.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of dry
Adjective
  • Doncic’s dueling personalities — the charismatic showman on the court and the reserved personality off it — overlap in his generosity.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Premier and reserved parking passes are both $65 on Ticketmaster.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of reserved
Adjective
  • Where Thomas is aloof and proud, Erika is prickly and sardonic, excellent tools for protecting a surprisingly fragile heart.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • And blondes will find a path that diverges—wintery vanilla for an aloof, icy look or buttery almond for a cozy blonde that still turns heads.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of aloof
Adjective
  • In an era of ball-to-feet No 10s and withdrawn strikers, Welbeck stays high up the pitch, runs the channels and occupies defenders.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 27 July 2026
  • The withdrawn earnings are taxed as ordinary income, the Treasury said.
    — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 11 July 2026
Definition of withdrawn

Browse Nearby Words

offings
offish
off-key
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Cite this Entry

“Offish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offish. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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