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
Canan is understandably standoffish when fielding the jibes and unsolicited career advice of the opposing side’s attorney.
—
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2023
After several minutes of standoffish conversation, Cummings accused Arriola of trying to scam him.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 10 Nov. 2022
And Steve says, all of this just goes a long way toward the hospital, redefining its once really standoffish relationship with the surrounding neighborhoods.
—Laura Johnston, cleveland, 7 Nov. 2022
Harper is initially cold and standoffish, refusing even to pick up a champagne flute to collectively toast to their impending holiday together.
—Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 31 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for standoffish
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2023
After several minutes of standoffish conversation, Cummings accused Arriola of trying to scam him.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 10 Nov. 2022
And Steve says, all of this just goes a long way toward the hospital, redefining its once really standoffish relationship with the surrounding neighborhoods.
—Laura Johnston, cleveland, 7 Nov. 2022
Harper is initially cold and standoffish, refusing even to pick up a champagne flute to collectively toast to their impending holiday together.
—Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 31 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for standoffish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoffish
Adjective
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Cars and trucks traveling along the highway passed by quietly in the distant background.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
13 June 2025
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Eventually, technology allows these distant intimates to share a frame.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
Established in 1980, Channel Islands National Park consists of five islands — Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and more detached Santa Barbara — and the marine reserves which lie within 1 nautical mile of the group’s 175 miles of coastline.—
Paul Bersebach,
Oc Register,
4 June 2025
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Anderson built del Toro’s role around the actor, who repays him with a beauty of a performance, embodying the detached charisma of a morally dubious tycoon with cool ease.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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The October air was cold, the grass brown, but Emily’s face was hot and her breath fast.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
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Her poise in the face of cold windy weather and a volatile opponent helped propel Gauff to victory.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
Adjective
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He was obsessed with beautiful, coolly aloof women.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
13 June 2025
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Yet each performance feels angled at a slightly different degree, one distinct acting turn making all the difference between a charming scoundrel, a depressed artist, a loyal sidekick, an aloof intellectual, or a precocious kid.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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Both elicit a cool factor that sets them apart from the typical high jewelry fare.—
Jill Newman,
Robb Report,
12 June 2025
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Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet to create an environment that supports restful sleep.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
To serve, garnish with the reserved strawberry slices.—
Georgeanne Brennan,
Mercury News,
5 June 2025
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Related Stories John Oliver Compares HBO Max/Max Branding Fiasco to Trump's Renaming the Gulf of Mexico Ardant stars as Nathalie de Beauvillier, the manor’s reserved and eccentric lady, while Dequenne delivers one of her final screen performances as Odile, the spirited cook.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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Hayk, a withdrawn and aloof child, lives on a farm with his aunt Narine and gets mocked and called strange by others.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2025
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For children, especially, these stressors can quickly lead to meltdowns or withdrawn behavior.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Standoffish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoffish. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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