OFFISH Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

offish

adjective

ˈȯ-fish

Definition of offish

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

Adjective

Another fascinating possibility nuclear-electric thrusters open is missions into interstellar space and the distant Oort cloud within a single lifetime.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
The metropolis appears to be on the outside looking in, with Las Vegas and Seattle considered distant frontrunners to land the 31st and 32nd teams.

— Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of distant

Adjective

Safety regulators said that an exterior panel on the vehicle could become detached while driving, creating a hazardous environment for other vehicles.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Many clutched their pearls at the teen’s indifference, but the clip went viral as younger audiences embraced his detached demeanor.

— Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of detached

Adjective

After starting in the middle of the night, candidates get about four hours of sleep over the next five days and complete tasks like carrying logs, launching boats into crashing waves, lying in cold ocean water and running around 200 miles.

— James LaPorta, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026
Doing so before the plant is fully dormant can encourage new growth, which will be vulnerable to cold damage when cooler weather arrives.

— Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of cold

Adjective

Inland, Sidi Bouzid offers about 5 minutes, 33 seconds beneath typically dry skies, while the spectacular Roman amphitheater at El Jem gets 4 minutes, 23 seconds.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Fresco painting involves laying dry powdered pigment onto the wet plaster so that the pigment is absorbed into the plaster and becomes one with it.

— Artforum, Artforum, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of dry

Adjective

Transfer to bowl with reserved dressing and toss to coat evenly.

— Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
The figure most responsible for this was Robert Katzman, a reserved, soft-spoken neurologist who chaired the department at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in the Bronx.

— Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 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

The withdrawn application had requested approval to build a 166,000-square-foot warehouse on a parcel off Hill Road between State Highway 55 and North Horseshoe Bend Road, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.

— Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 26 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of withdrawn

Browse Nearby Words

offings

offish

off-key

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“Offish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offish. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of offish

adjective

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