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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 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
-
Sinema fell to a distant third in public polling before formally quitting the race in March.Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
-
And for those who were curious about the fact that the actor and the author share a last name, yes — the late writer is a distant relative.Max Gao, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
The families later learned through their teens’ text messages that the two decided to park in the detached garage that the Lees mostly used for storage, Merle explained.Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 15 Nov. 2024
-
Listed for the first time this year, the 61-acre property includes a sprawling mansion, a greenhouse, and a detached garage with room for up to 20 cars.Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
Others who should avoid such cold exposure include those with Raynaud’s disease, which Nicola says is a condition of extreme cold sensitivity and circulation problems.Audrey Noble, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2024
-
This is the temperature at which someone who sleeps cold will still feel comfortable.Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Other women in particular seem to think this was a very, very cool thing to have done.Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
-
Murdock said both systems are bringing cold air from the Alaskan gulf and are part of a pattern that has allowed the jet stream to let in cooler air than normal.Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
While the Southwest, the Central Rockies, the Gulf Coast and the Eastern Seaboard tend to see drier and warmer winters, the Pacific Northwest, New England and the Great Lakes usually experience wetter winters.Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
-
The fire erupted Wednesday morning in Ventura County and, fueled by ferocious Santa Ana winds and dry conditions, quickly exploded in size and jumped a highway toward homes, forcing more than 10,000 people to evacuate.Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Breznik’s husband, Matjaž, a reserved and soft-spoken man, is her sous-chef.Ellen Ruppel Shell, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024
-
By that time, most of the people who came to watch had cleared the sales floor for the more inviting environs of their idling black cars or their reserved table at Mr. Chow.George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
In his 1986 work Talent, David Robbins depicted the ’80s artist as a less aloof and rarefied figure than his bohemian predecessors, with a career rather than a calling.Natasha Degen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024
-
Her compatriots found her aloof, and some wanted to hurt her.Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
When Marnie Was There A subtle, rewarding story about adolescence and identity based on a 1967 novel of the same name by British author Joan G. Robinson, When Marnie Was There follows Anna, a shy and withdrawn girl who struggles to connect to anyone.Matt Kamen, WIRED, 7 Sep. 2023
-
Mara, though initially more withdrawn, eventually gives in to his charms, even though Matt isn’t exactly a typical leading man.Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near offish
Cite this Entry
“Offish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offish. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share