as in distant
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others
she was consistently surly and offish with the would-be suitors who came calling
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Recent Examples of offish
Richard’s other big ally is undervalued and initially stand-offish plant engineer Clarence C. Baker (Dennis Haysbert), who eventually warms to Richard’s interest in his machines, and who encourages him to think big.
—
Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Mar. 2023
Guzmán said the stereotype that Germans are stand-offish is way off the mark.
—Soudi Jiménezescritor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2022
But announcements on two continents in the last week show that showing the stand-offish situation is changing, with Royal Dutch Shell and General Motors hooking up in the US and BP buying into a BMW-Daimler charging joint venture in Europe.
—Michael Taylor, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021
Off fans will also find a few cakes, including the show-offish Swedish Prinsesstårta.
—Kate Krader, Bloomberg.com, 13 Nov. 2020
The plaza between the two buildings makes the complex feel open and welcoming, not overbearing or stand-offish.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 4 Oct. 2020
Most of the mentor-teacher characters in kung fu films are extremely stand-offish and intimidating.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 1 July 2020
Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Mar. 2023
Guzmán said the stereotype that Germans are stand-offish is way off the mark.
—Soudi Jiménezescritor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2022
But announcements on two continents in the last week show that showing the stand-offish situation is changing, with Royal Dutch Shell and General Motors hooking up in the US and BP buying into a BMW-Daimler charging joint venture in Europe.
—Michael Taylor, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021
Off fans will also find a few cakes, including the show-offish Swedish Prinsesstårta.
—Kate Krader, Bloomberg.com, 13 Nov. 2020
The plaza between the two buildings makes the complex feel open and welcoming, not overbearing or stand-offish.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 4 Oct. 2020
Most of the mentor-teacher characters in kung fu films are extremely stand-offish and intimidating.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 1 July 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offish
Adjective
-
Phillip raced around the exterior of the house, checking for embers and spraying distant hot spots with water, protecting what had become an island in the fire.—
Eli Saslow,
New York Times,
19 Jan. 2025
-
Only the Colorado Rockies, a distant 20th at $129.9 million, have decided not to join in the spending.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Remove anything flammable from within a 5 feet perimeter of your home and any detached buildings, such as dry leaves and pine needles.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA TODAY,
12 Jan. 2025
-
But the detached garage and a guest cottage were destroyed, as were all but three or four of the 20 or so houses on their block near the Altadena Golf Course.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
But Posey’s first significant trade as president of baseball operations required a bit of a cold touch.—
Andrew Baggarly,
The Athletic,
30 Jan. 2025
-
Humpback whales have been known to swim 5,000 miles from tropical grounds to colder grounds for more productive feedings and usually eat small fish, straining huge amounts of water on their baleen plates, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacramento Bee,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Ed was calm, cool and double-checked facts and arranged interviews with key players.—
Frederick N. Rasmussen,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Jan. 2025
-
But given this is a fashion week event, Sivan couldn’t help but make the professional look a little cooler—thanks to a delicious chocolate brown leather peacoat, which added just the right amount of edge.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, Southern California's climate continues to ping-pong between unseasonably wet conditions, which grow vegetation and unseasonably dry conditions which dry all that out into fire fuel.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
18 Jan. 2025
-
This Latitude Run mat at Wayfair is made with tightly woven cotton fibers, which traps moisture effectively, keeping the floor dry and slip-free.—
Jené Luciani Sena,
Fox News,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Tickets are $20 for reserved seating, $20 for general admission, $15 for students.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2025
-
Should a third violation happen, the consequences become much steeper—a €45,000 fine (€180,000 in F1) and a six-month suspension from the reserved areas.—
Yara Elshebiny,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Billy Strings and Jack White brought their coolly aloof swagger of being in the moment but above the fray of the grooving rhythms underpinning their virtuosity to Perkins songs.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
USA TODAY,
16 Jan. 2025
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There’s nothing floating or aloof, however, about Scherzinger’s performance.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
Pettersson is more withdrawn, more cerebral, more sensitive and certainly not prone to confrontation by nature.—
Chris Johnston,
The Athletic,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Introverts may become talkative, or extroverts quiet and withdrawn.—
Dr. Talia Varley,
Forbes,
16 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near offish
Cite this Entry
“Offish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offish. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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