as in distant
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others
an unsociable but not an overtly rude child
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unsociable
Hospitality fared well in Deputy’s study, making up half of the 10 happiest job sectors, despite the sector’s reputation for high stress, unsociable hours, and low pay.
—
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2025
Ask Amy: My unsociable neighbor doesn't know about me and his wife.
—Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 2 June 2024
To drink too much would be inexcusable; to drink too little would be unsociable.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Feb. 2024
Pact and Bectu have been negotiating over terms of their new collective bargaining agreement since last year, with the crew union wanting more conditions in place regarding unsociable hours and the producers’ body saying that many of the requests are unworkable.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 30 Aug. 2022
For instance, long and unsociable hours are commonplace, and while this is in part due to the shortage of skilled personnel, there is also a cultural element to this that prohibits many from considering it a viable career.
—Adi Gaskell, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2021
The social media generation is increasingly clueless and unsociable.
—Susan Glaser, cleveland, 1 Mar. 2020
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2025
Ask Amy: My unsociable neighbor doesn't know about me and his wife.
—Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 2 June 2024
To drink too much would be inexcusable; to drink too little would be unsociable.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Feb. 2024
Pact and Bectu have been negotiating over terms of their new collective bargaining agreement since last year, with the crew union wanting more conditions in place regarding unsociable hours and the producers’ body saying that many of the requests are unworkable.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 30 Aug. 2022
For instance, long and unsociable hours are commonplace, and while this is in part due to the shortage of skilled personnel, there is also a cultural element to this that prohibits many from considering it a viable career.
—Adi Gaskell, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2021
The social media generation is increasingly clueless and unsociable.
—Susan Glaser, cleveland, 1 Mar. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsociable
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
-
However, the system isn't completely antisocial.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Trump is at once a symptom of this disease and its apotheosis, a living representation of all the ways the United States has encouraged, tolerated and rewarded the most selfish and antisocial behaviors imaginable, at least among a certain class of person.—
Jamelle Bouie,
Mercury News,
8 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
Cite this Entry
“Unsociable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsociable. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
