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detachment

detachment

21 6.1
A lack of emotional involvement with people or situations
  • noun
  • /dɪˈtæʧmənt/
translation icon : desapego
  • This is now the beginning of the detachment from her emotions and from her intuition.
  • feeling of detachment
  • emotional detachment
  • scientific detachment

It's implying that there's a kind of detachment there as well.

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Examples

  • Second, it has the potential to increase psychological detachment from the organization.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Lydia kissed him back, but it was with a curious detachment, almost analytical.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Yeah, I think you said specifically detachment from relationships.

  • You need to learn the fine art of detachment, Lieutenant.

  • And I, I just felt this showed a detachment from reality that was stunning to me.

  • I cannot maintain a proper attitude of detachment.

  • We can begin to experience or perceive or the world with more detachment, which is quite a healthy thing actually.

  • Sometimes, however, you're operating at a level of detachment from emotion that most people are not.

  • Behind his show of detachment, O'Connor probes that he cared too much, or too little.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • His emotional detachment during the crisis made it difficult for others to rely on him.

Synonyms

isolation
vsdetachment
172 3.7

A state of being alone and cut off from other people physically or emotionally

is specifically about emotional distance rather than mere physical separation
distance
vsdetachment
129 5.4

A feeling of not being close to someone

is the general emotional separation without naming a cause
alienation
vsdetachment
30 7.4

Feeling of being alone and separate from other people

is personal emotional distance from people or situations rather than group estrangement
withdrawal
vsdetachment
12 6.0

Becoming quiet and less involved with other people

is the resulting state of emotional distance rather than the action of leaving
disconnection
vsdetachment
9 4.2

Being separate from people, things, or contact, for example losing internet

is emotional distance that focuses on not being involved or connected personally
estrangement
vsdetachment
8 7.8

A feeling of no longer being close to someone

is emotional distance that does not imply a prior close relationship
insulation
vsdetachment
6 4.9

A separation from outside influence or contact

is about emotional distance toward people rather than protective separation
aloofness
vsdetachment
4 7.2

A feeling of being distant from other people and not friendly

is emotional distance without the deliberate cold social manner
insularity
vsdetachment
2 9.4

Being separate from other places and having a narrow view of the world

is emotional separation from people rather than a limited or narrow viewpoint
disconnectedness
vsdetachment
1 7.4

A feeling of being separate from other people and the world

is specifically emotional distance and lack of involvement with people or events
disengagement
vsdetachment
1 6.5

The act of stopping a connection or ending involvement with something

is the resulting state of emotional distance rather than the process of release
apartness
vsdetachment
1 6.7

A state of being separate from other people

is emotional lack of connection to people or situations rather than mere separateness
noninvolvement
vsdetachment
1 5.5

Not taking part in or connected with something

is emotional lack of connection and involvement with people or situations
objectlessness
vsdetachment
  • Specialized
9.9

A state of having no close emotional ties to other people

is emotional distance that can exist without complete lack of inner attachments
withdrawnness
vsdetachment
8.4

A habit of staying quiet and keeping away from other people

is emotional distance focused on connection absence rather than personality tendency
insularism
vsdetachment
9.9

A way of thinking that keeps a country apart and closed to outside ideas

is about emotional distance from people and situations rather than geographic separation
disrelation
vsdetachment
9.9

A lack of connection between things or people

is emotional unconnectedness with people or situations rather than merely lacking links
uninvolvement
vsdetachment
6.6

Not taking part or caring about something

is specifically about emotional distance from people rather than general nonparticipation
disinvolvement
vsdetachment
9.8

Not taking part in something like a group or activity

is the ongoing state of emotional distance rather than the act of leaving
nonassociation
vsdetachment
7.4

Not being connected with people or groups

is emotional separation from people rather than a lack of formal links
nonattachment
vsdetachment
8.4

A state of not having strong feelings for people or things

is emotional distance that can be unintentional rather than a chosen practice

Antonyms

418 2.9

Taking part in an activity, group, or discussion

89 3.3

A strong feeling of liking and caring for someone or something

Compounds

retinal detachment
  • Specialized
1 6.9

The retina pulls away from the back of the eye and causes sudden vision loss that needs urgent treatment

6.0

A serious eye problem when the retina pulls away from the back of the eye, causing sudden vision loss

How Detached

engagement
78 3.9
involvement
418 2.9
neutrality
22 4.4
detachment
21 6.1
indifference
71 4.6
aloofness
4 7.2

Surface Forms

detachment singular
detachments plural

Morphology

detachment = detach (transparent) = detach + ment

Standard nominalization from the verb 'detach' denoting the state of being separated; the emotional sense is a direct, figurative extension.

Etymology

Detachment comes from the prefix de- meaning 'away' and the same root as attach meaning 'to join'. So detachment is like being 'unjoined' or kept 'away' from a situation, which explains emotional distance.