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
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 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
-
If your screen ever felt just a little too small, the Samsung Odyssey G9 makes that a distant memory.—
Juhi Wadia,
PCMAG,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Resembling a distant cousin to the truffula tree in Seussical botany, this shaft of sturdy stem with intermittent globes of golden treats is a pollinator’s dream.—
New York Times Games,
New York Times,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
One adult who lives in the detached garage and six adults and three cats who live in an adjacent home were displaced by the fire, according to the post.—
Graeme Taskerud,
The Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2025
-
These parents fulfill their child’s basic needs—food, shelter and clothing—but remain emotionally detached and disengaged.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
In cold weather, the fluid circulating through the geothermal system’s underground plastic pipes absorbs the relatively warm temperature of the earth and brings it back to home heat pumps, which concentrate the heat and send it into homes.—
Nara Schoenberg,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Mar. 2025
-
But as the lingerie giant negotiates around a more cautious consumer, colder weather and tariff uncertainty out of the Trump White House, Hillary Super’s longer-term plans are coming into focus.—
Evan Clark,
WWD,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
This isn’t some fashion formula that’s difficult to decode; these beautiful dresses are easily toughened up with slouchy leather boots to create a cool juxtaposition for day and look just as swell with open toe mules for springtime evenings.—
Adam Mansuroglu,
WWD,
24 Feb. 2025
-
The children who would have traded their own existence for a cooler planet have already been born.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
The New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Amarone Casks Amarone is an Italian dry red wine, and this single malt was finished in casks originating in Verona.—
David Thomas Tao,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
-
Add half the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until combined.—
Angelica Stabile,
Fox News,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Every Wednesday night, Erika Hernandez's home has an open door—and a reserved seat—for her late son's best friend.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Members of the State Department's diplomatic corps have a reserved section.—
Javier Zarracina,
USA TODAY,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
This time could be different, yet the greater risk may be staying aloof and missing out on economic growth and corporate profits.—
Jeff Sommer,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Take, for example, Apple’s 2013 holiday ad, Misunderstood — a poignant narrative about a seemingly aloof teenager expressing love in his way.—
Bill Schiffmiller,
Forbes,
30 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Solitary, eccentric, shrouded in a mystical melancholy, Joakim fights for his farm and leads a withdrawn life, with only his pets and a neighbor for company; a Slovak immigrant who also lives ostracized, as an outsider.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2025
-
Hong’s withdrawn gaze is interrupted by sudden movements, like pans across space and crash zooms into ongoing conversations.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offish. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share