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 prospect of autonomy remains a distant and fading dream.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Since Iran’s first attacks on the Gulf, the atmosphere in Riyadh has remained calm, with the bombing on neighboring countries feeling like a distant phenomenon.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
By one estimate, fewer than a quarter of the residential areas in many cities allow anything other than detached single-family homes.—
M. Nolan Gray,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
-
But also, the way that the hospice nurses are so compassionate and calm and present, but at the same time detached.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Miami-Dade cold case detectives say that this is just one of the cold cases they are dedicated to solving.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Take advantage of the soon-to-start farmers market with a deal on Nama’s cold press juicer.—
Adam Campbell-Schmitt,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The rain again caused multiple delays throughout the mostly gray, sometimes sunny and unseasonably cool day, in the end postponing at least six matches.—
Susan Miller Degnan,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
-
But Sunday is forecast to bring a cool-down.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Ride past dry-stone walls, Irish-language signposts, and grid-like limestone fields etched by generations.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
-
This makes these products a true boon for anyone with dry hair, no matter their ancestry.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
When ready, add the cheese gradually, off heat, alternating with splashes of reserved pasta water while stirring or tossing vigorously to create a smooth, emulsified sauce.—
Hana Asbrink,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Press the reserved cake cubes onto the top and sides of the cake.—
Mary Ann Esposito,
Boston Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s because players generally tend to be neutral on or supportive of their GMs, if not completely aloof.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Chows are depicted on Chinese pottery dating to the Han dynasty; some lore maintains that this aloof, moody breed evolved in the shadow of the North Pole.—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 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 Mar. 2026.
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