standoffish

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She describes herself as “prickly and standoffish, selectively extroverted, largely humorless.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2025

Or maybe the grouchy, standoffish, self-righteous pain in the butt is a character that resonates in Denmark.

From New York Times • Mar. 13, 2024

He also knew his status - it was one of the reasons why he could appear standoffish to those he didn't know.

From BBC • Oct. 21, 2023

Over the course of seven years, we saw them morph from standoffish children — often bullied because of the complexion of their skin — to two young, confident leaders.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2023

A family of them now reside in the New York Museum of Natural History, dead and stuffed, with standoffish glass eyes.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver