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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of standoffish
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
Stubborn and can be a bit standoffish, but great protectors.
—D.l. Davis, jsonline.com, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standoffish
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
Stubborn and can be a bit standoffish, but great protectors.
—D.l. Davis, jsonline.com, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standoffish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoffish
Adjective
-
Some eighty-thousand men, women and children would be sentenced to transportation, taking them from Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland to a distant region of the British Empire that would come to be known as Tasmania.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
In the not-too-distant past, a rocket might launch to orbit every few weeks or so.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
That doesn’t mean being passive or detached.—
Glenn Kurlander,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Total sales were down 1% to 5,663, and Jefferson, Douglas, Arapahoe and Adams counties all had slightly more detached home sales than Denver.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Her nurse scooped her up and ran to put her into a cold bath, and slowly the motions faded.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Ways to do that include cold showers, taking a nature walk, laughing, taking deep breaths, listening to something relaxing, or humming to yourself.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In light of his trajectory from problem child to aloof entrepreneur, Newsom, who is said to be planning a run for higher office, has an opportunity to become America’s first Gen X President.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
-
As her image is being chopped, skewed, and sold for parts, Charli (a genuinely good actor) toggles between aloof disinterest and manic frustration.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Carden-Lovell recommends splurging on time off, taking advantage of shoulder season's lower prices, thinner crowds and cooler weather (outside spring break periods, of course).—
Natalie B. Compton The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The air 15 to 20 degrees cooler than usual, the 60s for Saturday morning qualifying and Saturday afternoon’s race.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Add to reserved drippings in skillet; cook over medium-high until browned on two sides, about 2 minutes per side.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Melbourne Park does have three smaller show courts with capacities between 3,000 and 5,000 and no reserved seating.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Off-screen, Affleck has a slightly rougher star persona, while Damon’s can be a little more withdrawn and intellectual.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Standoffish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoffish. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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