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
-
And while observatories in space and on the ground can give some clues about exoplanets, stars themselves are crucial to understanding these distant worlds.—
Elizabeth Landau,
Smithsonian Magazine,
19 Mar. 2025
-
But, with even a 30-day ceasefire off the table for Moscow, any such post-war accord with Russia is a distant prospect, Dopagne said.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The property comes with a detached garage with a stylish glass garage door and a car charger.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 2025
-
The designation includes the original detached garage, pool and relevant landscape design elements.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
But the weather is expected to be cold and rainy in Chicago.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2025
-
The nights are cold still, though bundling up is certainly an option.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Levi’s never lose their cool factor, so these are a safe investment.—
Claudia Fisher,
Parents,
20 Mar. 2025
-
These keep you cool in spring and summer and play nicely with pants made of similar materials.—
René Chávez Esparza,
Glamour,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In the Gaslamp, Rustic Root is offering Maryland crab cake Benedict, a 28-day dry aged ribeye and chocolate bread pudding from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Combine Wet and Dry Stop the mixer and add half of the dry ingredients to the wet, and beat on low speed until most of the flour is incorporated.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
My temperament is to be a little bit more reserved and private than hers.—
Lexy Perez,
The Hollywood Reporter,
25 Mar. 2025
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Cartagena, Spain, won third prize for its assistance to people with disabilities bathing at popular beaches, and for reserved accessible seats at public events.—
Troy Aidan Sambajon,
The Christian Science Monitor,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Adichie’s protagonists are independent and deeply ambivalent, not so much aloof as detached, both from their love interests and from their own desires and aspirations.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2025
-
There’s a certain traditional stereotype of actors as people who are arrogant or self-confident, the sort of people who are overly serious, aloof, or pretentious.—
Callum Booth,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Nicky Jam has released his first project since facing stark backlash for his (withdrawn) endorsement of Donald Trump.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
28 Feb. 2025
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Children may express anxiety by becoming distant, withdrawn, agitated, upset, or avoiding social contact.8 4.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offish. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
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