as in distant
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others
she proved to be simply shy, not standoffish
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Recent Examples of standoffish
Created by Liz Tuccillo (Alaska Daily), Best Medicine centers on Martin Best, a standoffish but talented Boston surgeon who’s abruptly taken a post as Port Wenn’s new general practitioner.
—
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 2 Jan. 2026
Toby-Chien is loyal, rambunctious and devoted, while Kiki is standoffish and narcissistic, and the conversations between them are cleverly comic.
—Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025
One neighbor, Shamik Birzhet, 23, who lives in a third-floor apartment above the Pritchetts, told the Daily News the mother always struck him as standoffish and would often leave Jacob in the lobby unattended.
—Colin Mixson, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
As luck would have it, while living like a character out of an Austen novel, Jane meets a standoffish man who initially comes off as rude and pretentious.
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standoffish
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 2 Jan. 2026
Toby-Chien is loyal, rambunctious and devoted, while Kiki is standoffish and narcissistic, and the conversations between them are cleverly comic.
—Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025
One neighbor, Shamik Birzhet, 23, who lives in a third-floor apartment above the Pritchetts, told the Daily News the mother always struck him as standoffish and would often leave Jacob in the lobby unattended.
—Colin Mixson, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
As luck would have it, while living like a character out of an Austen novel, Jane meets a standoffish man who initially comes off as rude and pretentious.
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standoffish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoffish
Adjective
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Genealogy investigations have had major success stories Successfully using the DNA of distant family members to profile and narrow down suspects had an extraordinarily high-profile debut in 2018, when it was used to solve the cold case of the Golden State Killer.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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The oldest American woman to compete in the women’s singles event in nearly a century now sits in a distant 13th place ahead of the 4-minute free skate on Thursday night.—
Brittany Ghiroli,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Senate Bill 1277 would cut text limiting what counts as an ADU, essentially allowing detached ADUs with the same consideration as apartments inside a home.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
13 Feb. 2026
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Yes, all of these songs coast primarily on vibes—Joji’s delivery remains detached and clinical throughout—but at least the vibes are compelling.—
Mehan Jayasuriya,
Pitchfork,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Gophers and Ducks were both ice cold in the first half, with the U holding an unsightly 22-13 lead.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
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The Antarctic Ocean is heavily layered, or stratified, to a depth of around 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) because of conflicting properties including colder, denser water from below not readily mixing with fresh water running off melting ice from above.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Mai sings in a fake-aloof tone about not wanting to get her hopes up, but the beat’s rickety construction—808s, snaps, live drums, and an urgently ticking clock—undermines her facade.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
9 Feb. 2026
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But for a woman in contemporary Iran, staying aloof from politics was impossible.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The backstory The 34-year-old hotel is amid years-long renovations, ensuring this old favorite stays relevant and cool.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
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This New York Fashion Week, Anna Sui's show brought together a nostalgic, indie-cool twist on boho chic.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Top each lettuce half with 2 tablespoons burnt garlic Caesar dressing and sprinkle with reserved bread crumbs, divided between plates.—
C.W. Cameron,
AJC.com,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Top everything with the reserved 2/3 cup of cheese.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Parents report that many children stop eating, lose weight and become withdrawn.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
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The Flynns’ pompous neighbor, Jim Doherty, a divorcé with a withdrawn, unpleasant son, encourages Catherine’s artistic rebirth.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Standoffish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoffish. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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