offish

adjective

ˈȯ-fish How to pronounce offish (audio)
Definition of offishnext
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

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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 So long as that situation continues, the 43-year-old’s allegedly arrogant and stand-offish treatment of his players will not worry the club hierarchy too much. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025 They weren’t being stand-offish, not at all. — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025 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
  1. distant
  2. detached
  3. cold
  4. cool
  5. dry
  6. reserved
  7. aloof
  8. withdrawn
Adjective
  • As the men draw closer to the peak, the likelihood of reaching it actually grows more distant.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Henry’s horrified too, but my guy’s also confused because instead of really feeling for what her husband has been through, Julia is cold and distant.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of distant
Adjective
  • The year-to-date median close price for detached homes sits at $650,000, matching each of the past two years.
    — Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Firefighters were called out to a residential fire near Pomegranate Avenue and found significant fire coming from a home and a detached garage.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of detached
Adjective
  • The spa is set to open in mid-December and promises to have a range of treatments including massages, facials, and hot/cold therapy.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Concrete is rigid, cold, and dead; land is living and breathing.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of cold
Adjective
  • All 150 king rooms have private terraces, with pale woods and décor in cool taupe shades, while some of the suites have plunge pools, private gardens or two bedrooms.
    — Siobhan Grogan, TheWeek, 12 Oct. 2026
  • RedMagic, for example, uses a 3D vapor chamber with a composite liquid metal and a fan to keep the 11S Pro gaming phone running cool.
    — Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of cool
Adjective
  • Recently, the sector has been affected by El Nino, which brings weak monsoons and dry weather, reducing yields and sucrose recovery.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • My complexion tends to be dry in some areas and oily in others, so striking the balance between glow and grease can be tricky.
    — Lucy Partington, Glamour, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of dry
Adjective
  • Top with reserved hazelnuts and press in gently to adhere (surface will be smothered with nuts).
    — Tanya Bush, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Forced to pick up the pieces of her life on the eve of the Great Depression, the reserved Caddie lands a job behind a bustling pub.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of reserved
Adjective
  • The world, in other words, is currently being steered by people who don’t like it very much, and Artificial makes the case that this should be very alarming, albeit in a way that’s frustratingly aloof.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Several people, including Simonton, described Allen as aloof from his workers.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of aloof
Adjective
  • In an era of ball-to-feet No 10s and withdrawn strikers, Welbeck stays high up the pitch, runs the channels and occupies defenders.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 27 July 2026
  • The withdrawn earnings are taxed as ordinary income, the Treasury said.
    — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 11 July 2026
Definition of withdrawn

Browse Nearby Words

offings
offish
off-key
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Cite this Entry

“Offish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offish. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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