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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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

That microscopic shift alters the laser beams ever so slightly, producing a tiny flicker of light that alerts scientists to a distant cosmic event.

— Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 25 July 2026
For more than a decade, including when his party controlled both houses of Congress and the White House, the high school football star in his distant youth has been unable to move the ball a single yard.

— Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026

Definition of distant

Adjective

New homes are less likely to compete on price with existing homes in dense urban markets like New York City, where scarce land means new construction is dominated by condominium projects rather than detached homes.

— Mike Winters, CNBC, 23 July 2026
Apartments offer better square-meter-to-euro value than across the river, and detached homes are available here at a lower price point.

— Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2026

Definition of detached

Adjective

It’s been so cool to see all of the audience reception and theories and the excitement that people have for the character in the show is beyond me.

— Jennifer Maas, Variety, 27 July 2026
Black Panther was my very first film, and I was invited to create something really cool with a lot of grace, with a lot of safety.

— Tom Tapp, Deadline, 26 July 2026

Definition of cool

Adjective

Source for add-on acquisitions comprising 75%+ of total buyout activity and PE dry powder figures.

— Gustaf Lundberg Toresson, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
The fabric also has a spill-resistant treatment that keeps liquid on the surface long enough to blot with a dry cloth.

— Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026

Definition of dry

Adjective

The ArcLight helped pioneer premium modern multiplex features, including reclining stadium-style chairs, in-house gourmet dining and reserved seating.

— Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026
May would shed her quiet and reserved manner, teaming up with strangers for tournaments.

— Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 18 July 2026

Definition of reserved

Adjective

If their goal is to grant access to her particular perspective, then that perspective seems only that of a bored and aloof tween.

— Elena Lazic, Variety, 25 July 2026
At the same time, the director was himself a devastatingly handsome heartbreaker — several of his actresses, including the legendary Maria Callas, fell hard for him — and so perhaps knew something about the aloof, unnamed lover being pined for.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 July 2026

Definition of aloof

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 28 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of offish

adjective

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