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
Hired as a live-in caretaker in the opulent home, Ana Maria (Jenny Navarrete), a pregnant Colombian immigrant in Panama City hiding a major secret, develops a genuine bond with the initially standoffish Mechi, making for an unassumingly poignant and superbly acted two-hander.
—
Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
Popular on Variety Kathleen and Emily’s dynamic is echoed in the slightly standoffish greeting Kathleen gives her aging mother.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 17 May 2024
In a talking-head interview with the two of them, Kaleena gets really standoffish when Alisha accidentally touches her foot.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for standoffish
Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
Popular on Variety Kathleen and Emily’s dynamic is echoed in the slightly standoffish greeting Kathleen gives her aging mother.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 17 May 2024
In a talking-head interview with the two of them, Kaleena gets really standoffish when Alisha accidentally touches her foot.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for standoffish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoffish
Adjective
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Wildfire smoke can travel hundreds of miles, clouding skies and choking air quality in distant cities.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
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The comet will be too distant for a real close-up look.—
Andrew Jones,
Space.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Jorma Taccone, the Lonely Island member and former Saturday Night Live writer, suffered a shattered pelvis and a detached sacrum in a 20-foot fall from a ladder at his farmhouse in Connecticut.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
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For leaders wary of appearing cold or detached, the appeal is undeniable.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The fair also will feature two stages of music, an entertainment dome, mouthwatering festival food and plenty of cold beer.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Sep. 2025
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In a study, the team describes how cooling a gas of radioactive atoms to temperatures colder than deep space could synchronize their radioactive decay.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Enid-as-Wednesday struggles to stay cool and aloof.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
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The episode also doubles as a character study of Morrow, who to this point has largely been an aloof, menacing figure.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Waterspouts tend to form when the air is cool and moist, and the water is near its warmest.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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After months of summer heat, cooler temperatures are a welcome shift, but along with sweater weather and falling leaves come dwindling daylight hours.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The journey is comfortable, with reserved seats, onboard restrooms, and no worries about parking or crowded overlooks.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
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Garnish with reserved fennel fronds.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Set in Taiwan in 1988, Girl revolves around Hsiao-lee, a quiet and withdrawn girl, growing up in silent gloom.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
5 Aug. 2025
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Unfortunately, further discussions were heated, with no resolve, just more withdrawn behavior while the communications continued.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Standoffish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoffish. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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