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
The boy was quiet, even standoffish, when Steve Montgomery first met him 15 years ago.
—
Taylor Batten,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
Kirk is appealingly standoffish, if such a thing might be imagined.
—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Her brood includes peacocks, chickens, goats, horses, donkeys, and a new rescue rabbit named Bugsy who’s a bit standoffish.
—
Emily Elias,
Vogue,
15 Jan. 2026
Moscow’s standoffish stance last year was a wake-up call to Tehran’s leadership about the limits of its alliance with Putin — limits that were being seen today too, analysts said.
—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for standoffish
Taylor Batten,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
Kirk is appealingly standoffish, if such a thing might be imagined.
—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Her brood includes peacocks, chickens, goats, horses, donkeys, and a new rescue rabbit named Bugsy who’s a bit standoffish.
—
Emily Elias,
Vogue,
15 Jan. 2026
Moscow’s standoffish stance last year was a wake-up call to Tehran’s leadership about the limits of its alliance with Putin — limits that were being seen today too, analysts said.
—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for standoffish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standoffish
Adjective
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Assemblymember Alex Bores, had 35%, followed by Schlossberg, who trailed in a distant third with less than 11%.
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Wet paint auctions feel like a distant memory, with frivolous, speculative art buying, especially from 2020 to 2022, now being passé.
Adjective
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They got approved for a mortgage on a £150,000 (about $198,441) two-bedroom, semi-detached house in Seaham, England.
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Olise has purposefully cultivated a kind of detached non-persona.
Adjective
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Next to him, the waters of Lincoln’s Sinking Spring still ran cold.
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If time doesn’t allow for spa treatments, a morning swim in the indoor pool accompanied by a sauna and cold plunge in one of their two thermal suites might suffice.
Adjective
-
Tired of trying to come off cool and aloof on dates?
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The design is still in progress, and while NJ Transit has joined Amtrak in shaping the latest proposal, the MTA remains sulkily aloof.
Adjective
-
Parade organizers have warned attendees to take steps to stay cool, as temperatures on Sunday will feel like the 90s.
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This guest even slipped on some socks for some extra cool girl points.
Adjective
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Serena’s name was on everyone’s lips, with fans chatting about the American’s chances and journalists jostling for position to get their hands on a reserved media seat.
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The canopy area featured reserved seating that was blocked off with more seats for fans to sit and watch the game in the shade.
Adjective
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The withdrawn draft focused on setting up several new watchdogs to keep AI in check, including a dedicated commission and a special insurance fund to help people if the new technology caused harm.
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The story follows Trey, a withdrawn ex-con surviving as a night driver on the city’s margins, who forms a tentative and increasingly intimate bond with Camden (Dafne Keen), a sharp and restless young woman working as a call girl.
Cite this Entry
“Standoffish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standoffish. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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