aloof
- adjective
- /əˈluːf/
- Many perceived the new student as aloof because she rarely smiled or interacted with her classmates.
- remain aloof
- stand aloof
- keep aloof
No, he was a very aloof person in private.
- No, he was a very aloof person in private.
- They're very independent and I can find that they're often aloof and drama Queens.
- And so he's aloof, he's distant, he's not present.
- He was just a very aloof type individual, smart, but just different.
- He seemed normal, aloof, but normal.
- And Komo is oftentimes a little bit more reserved, a little bit aloof, but way cooler.
- Cats are sarcastic or aloof because they don't care about anything but themselves.
- Someone being aloof and uncertain of you shouldn't tempt you to chase more.
- You'll see that diffident, aloof, cold, rejecting, sometimes even envious narcissistic parents.
- You know, you just don't respond, which is another version of having one's guard up and wanting to look aloof instead of actually communicating.
- You had you had like this, this almost like affable, aloof set of balls.
Examples
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No, he's a sophisticated but aloof gentleman.
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He seemed normal, aloof, but normal.
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No, he was a very aloof person in private.
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I thought I was being rather aloof.
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He was just a very aloof type individual, smart, but just different.
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There was a period of time when people would say that I was aloof and and arrogant.
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Friendly but aloof and dignified.
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21 agency officials would organize and participate in the negotiations rather than remain aloof from the process.
Academic text (2006) -
Libby was separate; not aloof exactly, but sort of detached, marking time.
Fiction book (1995) -
Marissa, on the other hand, was restrained and aloof, seemingly unwilling for others to know what she was thinking.
Fiction book (1999)
Synonyms
Unfriendly and distant in feeling or action
Not friendly or warm, behaving in a quiet, cold way
A person who is not affected by personal feelings and shows little emotion
Cold and unfriendly in tone or manner
Not friendly or warm toward other people
Not friendly and keeping a distance from others
Not friendly and hard to talk to so people avoid them
A person who does not enjoy being with other people
Not friendly and avoids talking to other people
Not willing to show feelings or talk much
Not talking much and not showing strong feelings
Someone who is quiet and prefers to be alone instead of being with others
Antonyms
How Distant
Surface Forms
Etymology
Aloof comes from an old sailing phrase made of a- and loof, which meant 'to the wind' or 'away from the shore', so a ship would stay at a distance. That's why aloof now means 'not friendly' or 'distant'.